One of Bradford's most popular rock groups have announced they are to play in the city for the first time in five years.

New Model Army will perform at Bradford University on March 4 to promote their new album Eight, which is released on Monday..

The group are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, although singer and guitarist Justin Sullivan is the only remaining member of the original line-up.

New Model Army have become Bradford's most enduring alternative rock band over the past two decades, releasing a string of hit records and building up a fanatical following.

But since their last hometown gig in 1995 at the Windsor Baths in Great Horton Road, they have been forced to choose Leeds rather than Bradford whenever they have been on tour.

Justin said Bradford had suffered from a lac of suitable venues since the Queens Hall ceased to be the headquarters of Bradford College's student union. Instead the band's recent West Yorkshire shows had usually been staged at the Town and Country Club in Leeds.

The band's manager Tommy Tee said: "The year 2000 will mark 20 years since New Model Army first strode onto stage in a small club in their hometown.

"In that time the line-up of the band may have changed more than ten times but the fire in the heart of the band has never cooled and they have never betrayed their principles, nor compromised their ideals.

"They have also never lost sight of the fact that it was their outstanding live performances that have kept the flames of passion burning in the audience."

Eight was mostly recorded at the band's own studio and is released on their own label Attack Attack, which was set up after they quit EMI and Epic Records to strike out for independence.

It is their first album to feature new drummer Michael Dean.

lTickets to the Bradford University gig cost £11 and available from the student union or usual outlets.

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