CHERRY Ghost are playing four intimate shows, including one at Manchester’s atmospheric cathedral on March 16. We spoke to frontman Simon Aldred.

Cherry Ghost frontman Simon Aldred has never been one to allow himself to get swept away by success, but even the Bolton-born singer is excited at the news that his latest album has picked up a few celebrity fans.

“We found out Bruce Springsteen has said that we’re one of his favourite new bands,” says the Ivor Novello award winner. “It’s also one of Robert Plant’s albums of the year. It’s definitely a pat on the back if you’re a songwriter for people like that to praise you. It might not mean anything in terms of record sales, but it’s a nice vanity thing.”

The album has also made it on to several end-of-year “best of” lists, which Simon is ambivalent about.

“I’m cool with the Bruce Springsteen rubber stamp — anyone else can say whatever they want,” he says.

You can’t blame him for being slightly cynical. After all, his band has been compared to every other northern band going, from Doves to Elbow and every cliche inbetween, by reviewers who seem to be all too quick to hear the gloomy Bolton rain, and unwilling to open their minds to the possibility of any influences outside the Lancashire border. But with work on the band’s third album going in a decidedly new direction, you get the feeling that they might soon have a surprise in store.

“You get London journalists saying, ‘Who’s from the north?’” he says. “It’s so boring. You get used to it eventually. That’s why I’m going to go for something with a sunnier disposition, just to be awkward.”

Yes, Simon Aldred, the man behind the decidedly brooding, We Sleep On Stones, and the hymn to late-night loneliness, 4am, is planning to write an album of pop songs.

“God forbid, but you might actually be able to shake your hips to it,” he says. “It’s a lot more like what we listen to ourselves at home or on the tour bus, which is all good time music.”

Like what?

“Well, I’ve been enjoying the Caribou album. And I listen to The National a lot. Obviously that’s what you’d expect from a group that’s quite miserable.”

So is that their idea of good time music?

“No!” he laughs. “But I also listen to a lot of upbeat soul music.”

And it is that classic, upbeat soul music that Simon has channelled for the new songs.

“I’ve been a lot more intuitive with my writing,” he says. “I always have these pop songs and it’s quite difficult to place them among these serious songs. I’m ready to do it now — I feel like I’m accomplished enough for them not to sound stupid.”

The band have come a long way since the release of their debut album, Thirst For Romance, back in 2007, although to the untrained eye it might seem like their progress has been slow.

After departing from EMI after the release of their debut, due to philosophical disagreements with new label owner Guy Hands about acceptable conditions for musicians to work under (“the money they offered us for the second album was so low we could have put it in ourselves,” he said at the time), the band signed to indie label Heavenly to release Beneath This Burning Shoreline.

The recording process was certainly different second time round, but what about touring? In October, they played Manchester Academy 2 and Preston’s 53 Degrees as part of a national tour to promote the record, and it sounds like they had a lot of fun.

“For the first record, it was much more lavish — it was like the last days of the Roman Empire,” Simon says. “It’s the way it works — people make albums in their bedrooms now.

“In terms of touring I’ve enjoyed it much more — it’s been more fun, more hands on and the songs are better, so we’ve enjoyed playing them more.”

And despite having much less money to spend promoting the record, meaning it didn’t hit the top 10 like its predecessor, Simon is unconcerned.

“It’s a slow burner, so the plan is to keep releasing stuff,” he says. “It’s actually sold better than the first one, it’s just been slow and steady — we might actually make some money from selling records, which is almost unfathomable.”

Tickets are on sale for a further four intimate shows which have been announced, including one at Manchester’s atmospheric cathedral.

“We figured we play quite moody music so we thought we would get some strings along, it’s got a nice ambience, we’ll get some candles out,” he says. “It’s just a quirky little venue.”

With Christmas coming, and a recording studio at his new home to furnish, is there anything in particular that he’ll be asking for from Santa?

“I’ve suddenly got into all this techy stuff, I find myself getting very excited about drum machines,” he says. “I’d like a media tablet for Christmas, but I don’t like Apple so not an iPad — a gizmo of some kind. And a record player, which is something I’ve never had before.

“So yes, quite a lot. But I’ve been a fairly good boy — a bit mischievous here and there.”

* Cherry Ghost play Manchester Cathedral on March 16. Tickets cost £13.50, and are available by ringing 0844 8110051.