OCEAN Colour Scene founder Steve Cradock is rock and roll’s man for all seasons.

Ocean Colour Scene broke the mould with their soulful 1960s-influenced sound Moseley Shoals and they are still ripping it up nearly two decades since they rode the wild wave of Britpop with popular hits such as The Day We Caught the Train.

“Looking back, Britpop was just a press word, really, I think,” said Cradock, who brings his own band to Clitheroe later this month.

“When Oasis came along, Blur and us lot were already going, but they changed the template and the whole media thing just exploded.

“It was never a movement, though, just a tag of convenience for the media.”

Ocean Colour Scene was always more beat group than Britpop, yet the five-piece were on the bill of a concert that has come to symbolise Britpop — Oasis at Knebworth in 1996.

“That was truly amazing,” added Cradock.

“For a band of our generation to do two nights at Knebworth, it was unheard of.

“You’ve got to remember that we came from being fans of The La’s and Stone Roses, an indie mentality — so to see a band like Oasis do two nights playing to a quarter of a million people was extraordinary.”

Having penned contributions on Paul Weller’s many albums and played in the Modfather’s backing band for many years, Cradock is constantly pushing out the boundaries on various other projects.

His own solo offerings include the Kundalini Target and Peace City West ,which he has toured in a band, supporting Noel Gallagher’s Beady Eye and Miles Kane.

Cradock’s latest musical offering, Travel Wild – Travel Free, is a contemporary exploration into the psychedelic sixties and seventies with a distinct nod to his Brit-pop roots.

“We like to describe it as sort of acid folk.

“It is like acoustic psychedelic music with lots of delays and reverbs,” he said.

“I’ve never been into deep and meaningful lyrics. I’ve always preferred the music to speak for itself.

“I’m much more about the melody and making something melodic, rather than writing statement records.”

The album is certainly harmonious and is a family affair with Steve’s wife Sally co-producing, co-writing and also singing on some of the tracks.

He said: “We try to get everyone involved.

“My son Cassius plays the flute on one track and it’s been really nice watching his confidence when playing. My daughter wrote a poem and that features on it too.”

Unlike many of their musical counterparts, Ocean Colour Scene still regularly perform and record together.

He said: “If we’d have split up we could have made a mint together. We really missed a trick there.

“It’ll be 25 years this October since we got together so it’s amazing that we still enjoy performing together.

“I’ve just been asked to play guitar for The Specials in November and we’re going to sit down and start planning some Ocean Colour Scene gigs for next year, so there’s plenty happening and I’m looking forward to playing at the Grand with my band.”

Steve Cradock Band plus The Real People. Clitheroe Grand, Friday, July 25. Details from 01200 421599.