You Me At Six return to Birmingham

After all, the alt-rockers played the venue alongside All Time Low just two years ago. And You Me At Six's career has been super-sizing since then as their new album, the brilliant Night People, follows in the slipstream of its number one predecessor, Cavalier Youth.

But tempting though that might have been, they'll be down the road on Monday playing to a full house at the O2.

The long-term friends, who formed their band as teenagers, are happier that way. Their arena tour was done and dusted in five days – this time round, they're playing more gigs and will stay on the road for longer.

Bassist Matt Barnes says: "It was amazing on that arena tour but the only annoying thing about it was that it was only five dates long. We wanted more gigs.

"So this time round we wanted to do more shows in the UK. We didn't want to do just the big ones. The last time was the NEC Arena. But next week we're back in the Academy and we've done that room so many times. It's amazing, there's always such a good vibe. We get very excited about Birmingham. They always have the best crowds."

You Me At Six will be playing tunes from Night People, as well as hits from their five earlier albums. Night People came about after the band took their first holiday in 10 years. They'd formed their band aged 15 to 17 and stayed on the road for a decade.

Matt says: "I think it was important to take a break. We've been in this band since we were kids and we hadn't had a pause up until a-year-and-a-half ago. We'd missed out on some things at home. We wanted to live like all of our mates instead of being on the road. But now we're all refreshed. We're back at it."

They built a studio in which to write and demo Night People. It was put together in the back garden of drummer Dan Flint and they wrote 50-60 demos for their new record.

They drew up a wishlist of producers, including the extraordinary Jacquire King, who has previously worked with Kings of Leon.

"It was amazing. He was on our wishlist. We thought we'd have to convince him and we scheduled a call. But then at the end of the call he was telling us he wanted to work with us."

So within days they were on a plane to Nashville. It all happened so quickly that by the time they touched down they'd still not booked rooms. Jacquire asked them why they'd never recorded live before – then got them to do just that. He wanted to capture the spirit of their live performances for the first time.

"He was quite hard on us at points but that brought out the best in us. When it's so long, there can be days when the days aren't creative. He was always on our tail and making us change things. The fact we were sat in a studio that countless artists have been in before helped us raise our game. You know, two weeks before we were there, Pharrell was there.

"Before, when we've recorded, we've done drums, then bass, then guitars. This time, we all got in the studio and recorded it live. It was really nice getting in the room. We've been a band for a long time and we know how to play together. So why the hell haven't we done that before?"

The band were buzzing when they heard the results. And though they had to sit on the record for six months before releasing it, that served only to increase their appetite. They've just completed a whistle-stop tour of European clubs and will be headlining the second stage at Reading and Leeds later this year. It's a fitting step up for a band that's grown organically.

"I think natural growth is the best way for a band to be. It's the best way a band can stay together. Sometimes bands get massive, then it's the lull on the second album. By the time of the third album they argue and break up. We've always been on the slow upward trajectory. It's been good for us."

They've learnt a lot of hard lessons as they've pursued a road previously followed by Foo Fighters, Muse and Biffy Clyro.

"When we were younger we made countless mistakes and got done over by so many people. Now we've learnt so much. It's all about learning, that's how bands like Foo Fighters have stood the test of time.

"But the thing with bands like Foo Fighters is that they're best mates. They started out as mates and still are. And it's the same for us. We started the band for a laugh and we're still here."

In many ways, patience and understanding are at the root of their success. The band spend long hours together on a tour bus and have to contend with one another's foibles.

"As I say, we all started from best mates wanting the best things. We all wanted to play music and be in a band. We were five people with the exact same common interests."