SOUTH London legends Squeeze are ready to hit the Cliffs Pavilion next week, hot off the heels of the release of their brand new album The Knowledge.

It follows the success of their North American tour in 2016 and the incredible reception to their latest album Cradle To The Grave.

As well as a vast catalogue including hits such as Cool For Cats, Up The Junction and Tempted, Squeeze also have Cradle To The Grave to draw on, their first collection of new tracks since 1998. This album marked the complete and, frankly, triumphant reintegration of the masterful songwriting axis of Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, in a beautifully-observed series of fond vignettes about childhood, growing up and the absurdities of the ride through life we’re all on.

The live band now features a six-piece line up with Chris and Glenn joined by Simon Hanson (drums), Lucy Shaw (bass), Stephen Large (keyboards) and Melvin Duffy (guitar and various instruments).

Support on the tour comes from Nine Below Zero.

Since their formation in 1977 the band have carved out a strong reputation as a live band, with The Crack magazine describing them as “one of the best blues bands in the country”.

Their latest album 13 Shades Of Blue (2016) features a horn section, keyboards, violin and backing vocalists.

Chris Difford says: “I’m excited that Nine Below Zero are opening up for us as they’re a band I have a huge amount of respect for.”

Glenn Tilbrook adds: “We will be honoured to welcome our old chums Nine Below Zero as support. Their album of covers, '13 Shades Of Blue' is one of my favourite albums of this year.”

Tickets are on sale from £36.50.

Visit southendtheatres.org.uk for booking information.

Squeeze will bring their Join the Dots tour be at the Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend on Tuesday October 24.

Q&A with Chris and Glenn.

Q: Squeeze recently finished a tour of the US. Are you excited to get back on the road on your home turf? What differences are there between the audience here and across the pond?

Glenn: Yes I’m really looking forward to this tour. The new line-up is really exciting. The difference between the audience here and across the pond is the accent when they cheer.

Chris: There is no difference, they are as enthusiastic as each other about our songs, which is very lucky.

Q: We’ve heard you’ve been in the studio recently working on your next album. How’s that going, and will Squeeze fans be able to hear some of the new songs on this tour?

Glenn: Yes we are rehearsing them as we speak. The Knowledge, the new Squeeze album, will be out soon.

Chris: Our new album is ready to go, sounds wonderful and will be available around the tour, which means we get to play some new songs on stage.

Q: You’ve got a new line up for this tour. Who are the new members and how does the band sound with them?

Glenn: We have Yolanda Charles on bass guitar and Steve Smith on percussion and guitar. It sounds the best a band can ever sound.

Chris: We have Yolanda Childs on bass, and Steve Smith on guitar and percussion. They both bring a new life to our songs which is refreshing. Its always good to mix things up as we have so many songs to pull from on tour.

Q: What are the essential items that you always bring on tour?

Glenn: My RV and lots of books.

Chris: A sense of humour and a few white shirts.

Q: There is the old adage that ‘what happens on tour stays on tour’, but are there any good anecdotes from when you were last on the road?

Glenn: No we sort of lost ourselves, the tour was so long.

Chris: Touring to everyone who is not on tour thinks there are many tales to tell, but its fairly tame at our end these days.

Q: What’s behind the name of the tour, ‘Join The Dots’?

Glenn: It is about situations where things become clear over a period of time.

Q: Nine Below Zero are your special guests on this tour. Glenn, you’re obviously great friends with NBZ having released an album with them in 2011 under the moniker The Cooperative. How does it feel to be playing with old friends, and can we expect any songs from ‘The’ Cooperative in the setlist?

Glenn: It is lovely to have them on the tour. You will just have to wait and see.

Chris: I love NBZ, I have got to know them recently and I’m so happy they will be kicking up some dust pre Squeeze on the tour.