"All good things must come to an end," read the press release when the Edinburgh-based Beta Band announced they were to split in August.

"Sadly, eight years of hard work and critical acclaim but little return in terms of commercial success inevitably takes its toll and a group decision was made to finally lay the band to rest."

After many years of being adored by the hip, three consistently innovative albums and numerous legendary live shows, it was something of a surprise to discover that the Beta Band are broke.

Name-checked as top of the cool list by John Cusack's music-enslaved character, Rob, in the movie High Fidelity, the band developed their shared interest in film and art to push the envelope in terms of their music and live performance.

They orchestrated themed gigs such as a night dedicated to Star Wars wore elaborate costumes and put on intense visuals including zany, home-made films. Sonically, they blended breakbeats with folk melodies and pure pop harmonies with the sound of dogs barking and seagulls squawking.

This may all sound pretty good but it was not enough to earn the lads a living.

"We were in debt to the record company and were just living on handouts," says band member Rich Greentree, who works as a carpenter on the side.

"There was just no security. We're all getting older and want houses and families you can't do that when you're not sure when you're going to be getting paid next so we had to call it a day.

"It's just down to the fact that we seem to have been on a plateau for so long and we weren't moving either up or down.

"We were just gliding along on this cloud of critical acclaim but with no commercial success.

"No-one seemed to be taking any notice of what we were doing."

But before you feel too sorry for them, remember this is the band who, after a worshipping media congregated around their feet, decided it would be a good idea to go around slagging off their own records and being surly. Lead man Steve Mason famously said their debut was "the worst record made this year".

"It was never completely true that we were difficult," insists drummer Robin Jones. "If you're difficult a few times, it becomes a tag line for the next article, whatever you do.

"When we were difficult in the past, we had reason for it it wasn't to annoy anyone or to upset people. We just didn't want the attention, we didn't think we were ready as a band to be given the title of the next big thing or saviours of rock 'n' roll.

"It can be dangerous for a band to believe in that, so we just tried to avoid all that publicity. The trouble was we did a bit too good a job."

Now that decision's been made to call it a day, though, the four piece intend to go out on a high with this extensive farewell tour.

"I think it will be great at the end of the tour because it will feel like a proper ending," says Richard.

"This time, we're not going for any visuals, any lights or any costumes. It will be a totally stripped-down simple versions with just a bare number of instruments, and we'll just be letting it all hang out.

"The main reason for that is it just costs money. We've never made any money out of a single tour so this time we're going to strip it all back and live on baked beans and sleep on park benches to hopefully get enough money to buy some Christmas presents!"

'Icelanic Beck' Gisli offers able support.

Starts 7.30pm, tickets cost £15. Call 01273 673311.