Cribs still out there; Indie group showcase their fourth album: Music.

YORKSHIRE indie group The Cribs, who now feature former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, will showcase their fourth album, Ignore The Ignorant, at Leamington's The Assembly on Thursday.

The four-piece was formed by singer Ryan Jarman, his twin brother Gary and their younger sibling Ross, who come from Wakefield.

POLLY WEEKS caught up with Ryan and fired some questions at him.

Q How does the new album compare with other releases in the charts? AA few years ago there was a real rash of bands which came along, I don't know how many of them are still around now. It feels like they have fallen by the wayside, but I was always really pleased because it's been a real gradual climb for us. We've never had any hype from radio or press. As a result there's no such thing as a casual Cribs fan. They're all hardcore, so it doesn't matter what the trend is or what's going on, we exist outside it.

Q Was it annoying that you weren't getting any media coverage before? A At the time it was really frustrating because it was taking such a long time, but now I wouldn't have it any other way. I think this record is better. We don't care what's going on.

I don't want to sound all poncy and say, 'This is completely different to anything else out there'. We don't listen to the radio or care what is going on around us. We make our records regardless. It's not done for commercial success but I would like it to be as commercial as possible. Now it seems the UK is going back to over-produced pop with songwriters, I would like it if we can offer a genuine alternative to the mainstream now.

Q You recently moved down to London from Wakefield. What prompted the move? A My girlfriend [Kate Nash] lives there, that's the reason you move anywhere, I think. I go through stages of not being into London and then phases of really liking it. I'm currently in the phase of liking it.

At heart I'm still from Wakefield and I have to come back here all the time. This is where I was born and grew up. It definitely makes me who I am, so I definitely come back here quite a lot.

Q Is it strange thinking you're part of a celebrity couple? A It is weird, definitely in the early days when we started going out and Kate was at her height of having loads of attention - we'd get offered loads of weird stuff to do as a celebrity couple.

We were never into it. Neither of us are into a celebrity lifestyle at all, but if we wanted to we could have become really annoying, but we totally didn't want that. We tried to give people as little excuse as possible to write about us.

Q Before you were a successful musician, did you have some rubbish jobs? A Yeah, I worked in my dad's toilet-roll factory for a few years. I don't think I was ever cut out for factory work. Physically I'm not strong enough to do it. I also sold double-glazing door-to-door and on the phone as well. That sucked a lot more than working in a factory. I really didn't enjoy it.

TicketInfo THE CRIBS - Thurs: The Assembly, Leamington Spa (01926 523001) Wednesday, Dec 2: O2 Academy, Birmingham (0844 477 2000)

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Hardcore fan base: The Cribs are performing in Leamington and Birmingham.