THE Yards' debut album will be released in July.

"We've finished the recording sessions, which we did at Alan Leach's Studio Seven, with bits and bobs at my house," says Chris Helme, lead singer of the York five-piece.

"We've produced the album ourselves, and it's the first time we've specifically recorded an album rather than just demos."

The record was planned originally for an April launch but will be available from July on the Industrial Erotica label, the independent outlet that handled The Yards' EP, The Devil Is Alive And Well And In DC.

The album title has not exactly taxed the band line-up of Helme, Stuart Fletcher, John Miller, Jon Hargreaves and Chris Farrel.

"We've decided to call it The Yards. Titles can wait for later albums!" says Chris, whose band continues to attract the attention of four or five labels. Watch this space for news of an impending deal.

Fresh from completing a 15-date tour supporting Love with Arthur Lee, The Yards will be showcasing their new material tomorrow in York at Fibbers. Their last appearance there sold out quickly, so Chris recommends early arrival.

Tickets cost £6 in advance on 0870 9070 999 or £7 on the door, and The Stanleys and DJ Dan Guest are on the bill too.

The Yards also play The Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge, with special guests The Sigma on May 20. Tickets for this 9pm gig cost £7 on 01751 417320.

u FIBBERS has its peachiest week in store since the crazy run of gigs that brought Blazin' Squad, Spiritualized, Badly Drawn Boy and Gomez to town in eight mad March days.

Jet Plane Landing set the weekend in motion with their Pavement and Weezer-style pop punk tonight; The Yards are at the Helme tomorrow; and the Larry Love Showband, fronted by Alabama 3's favourite son and founder, go dancing with the devils of poetry, blues and gospel with equal disregard for all on Sunday.

The Moonska Launch Pad Tour 2004 presents the skanking Northern Ska sound of Widnes, Zen Baseball Bat on Monday, with support from Graveltrap, Sonic Boom Six Dumpster Pop. Who are Zen Baseball Bat?

Ask Fibbers boss Tim Hornsby: "They set gritty humour to danceable Ska, 2 Tone and punk with hints of The Fall and Devo. What other band could have called their debut album I Am The Champion Concrete Mixer? Theirs is a strange, almost surreal, style honed during touring duties with the likes of King Prawn, Lubby Nugget and Shootin' Goon. Oh, and Johnny Vegas guests on their next album. They're on the weird side of brilliant," he says.

If The Cribs are Wakefield's answer to The Strokes, you may be tempted to ask 'What was the question?'. Anyway, judge them for yourselves on Wednesday when they sport big fashion hair, retro trainers and the garage sound of Pavement and, yes, The Strokes, with more than a flirtatious wink in the direction of Dinosaur Jr and Sonic Youth. Atlantic Dash, the latest signing to the Fierce Panda label, have been added to the bill.

Future Kings Of Spain headline the Carling Sessions night on Thursday, backed up by The Hair and Aspect Of One.

"A devastating trio, Future Kings Of Spain unleash projectile rage heavily influenced by Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr and Neil Young, and they have no problem making Todd Rundgren's Love Of The Common Man sound their own," says Tim.

Updated: 09:33 Friday, May 07, 2004