Elbow 'comfortable' with Hallé orchestra

Elbow have said that they feel comfortable playing their songs with an orchestral backing.

The band recently performed their latest album The Seldom Seen Kid with the BBC Concert Orchestra and have been rehearsing for new shows with Manchester's Hallé orchestra.

Keyboard player Craig Potter told The Guardian: "When you hear a song you've written being played by the orchestra, it's like it turns into a different thing. Yet it's also so familiar that you're immediately comfortable with it."

Frontman Guy Garvey added: "We were very keen that the orchestra should do more than just be a backing track. They're the Hallé, after all, so it's a pretty big deal."

Elbow and the Hallé play the Bridgewater Hall as part of the Manchester International Festival on July 8 and 9.