It's been a long hard summer for Charlotte Cooper. But that's how she likes it.

The Subways' bass player has spent what seems like forever on the road, gigging and festival going around the world.

Yet, what would you expect from a band who admit they only really come into their own when playing live?

"It's been a hectic summer she says. "We've been playing festivals all over the place — as far away as Japan. There's been no time to relax so I'm having a bit of time off before starting touring again next week.

"It's great to see people I miss and hang out with friends — and get new ideas."

Charlotte, singer and guitarist Billy Lunn, and Billy's drumming brother Josh Morgan have come a long way since The Subways burst on to a startled indie scene as an impossibly fresh-faced trio back in 2005, with their debut album Young For Eternity.

Attracting a growing grassroots fan base through endless gigs in ever-larger venues, plus support slots for Oasis and Foo Fighters, and even Kings of Leon at our own Oxford Brookes, their second album All Or Nothing continued to set the pace.

Though, as Charlotte explains, it almost never happened at all, after Billy was forced to undergo surgery early last year to cure nodules on his vocal chords, caused by strenuous touring.

"It's still fresh in our minds," she says.

"It was a really risky operation as he was told he might not be able to speak again, let alone sing. We went from having a manic time, to doing nothing at all until he got better.

"It was a worry. But he went back recently and was told everything was OK, which is a relief. And now we're louder than ever!"

Essex girl Charlotte is talking to The Guide in the unlikely setting of Rotherham.

"It's where my boyfriend Ryan lives," she says shyly.

"He's in a band called Skeletons. I didn't know what they were like because neither of us had heard of each other's bands, which was quite cool."

So what kind of summer has it been for The Subways?

"Amazing. We started off at the Download metal festival, which is the one we were also the most nervous about, as it has a clearly different crowd to the one we usually attract. We even had our 'if we get bottled off' talk! But it went really well — without any bottles at all.

"At festivals people go for a good time and to get into the music. We try and involve the audience and make them as crazy as we are.

"We are a really enthusiastic and passionate band and are a live band. Playing in front of an audience is when we have most meaning. Even if people haven't heard us we want them to come and have a good time."

And what has been her festival highlight?

"Reading and Leeds," she gasps, without hesitation. "We're not really indie or metal; we're a rock band. And that's our crowd."

On October 2 the band return to Oxford with a date at the Carling Academy. If you can't get along then, you will also get a chance to see them in the new Guy Ritchie film RocknRolla. The trio blast through a performance of hit single and live favourite Rock & Roll Queen during an extended club scene.

Though, given the movie reviews, you'd be far better off getting yourself down to the Academy.

"I can't wait to get back on the road," says Charlotte. After the UK tour, we've got gigs in France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

"We love it on tour. The other two are typical messy indie boys, and I might get annoyed with them, but then I'm sure they get annoyed with me leaving my makeup all over the place. We're like a big family!"