TWO months ago the combined forces of Franz Ferdinand and Sparks stepped out onto the stage at the Art School in Glasgow and performed their first gig together.

Now FFS are set for a repeat performance at the Barrowland, after pulling off a triumph back in June.

Singer Alex Kapranos admits the nerves were strong just before they performed.

“It was a room full of friends, family and other people we respect, and that kind of audience always bring the nerves out, so combined with it being a first gig, it was pretty intense,” he recalls, ahead of their Barras show next Wednesday.

“Once the first few notes rang out we knew it was going to be a good one though. I was so pleased the audience was warm, as we'd promised Ron and Russell (from Sparks) that Glasgow has the best audiences in the world.”

Since their first gig they’ve been touring, rolling through material from their team-up album while putting a new spin on old favourites by both bands.

The story of how the two acts formed this supergroup is well told by now - from initial discussions around a decade ago, to a chance meeting in America that kicked off the plans again, to the two bands sending fresh material back and forth to each other.

The results, though, have been better than anyone could have expected, fusing arch electro-pop and arty indie into a package that calls to mind both groups, yet has a clear identity of its own.

And Alex reckons the band cutting it live and sending crowds crazy has been the most satisfying aspect of the past few months, even though their self-titled debut album received some glowing wrote-ups in the music press.

“It doesn't matter how good the reviews are, it's when you see people going nuts for it at a gig that means the most,” he says.

“In the most part the best thing (making music) was that everyone kept their personality without comprising to create something new. That's the real trick.”

The next step for the band is the Barrowland. It’s a venue that’s hosted Franz Ferdinand on many occasions, and having lived in Glasgow for many years before moving to Dumfries Alex is well aware of the Barras significance as a venue.

When asked what makes it a special place to play, he can’t restrict himself to just one reason.

“The people. The way the pint glasses fly in the air. The sprung dance floor. The sweat. The roar. The stars on the ceiling. The history. The bar staff are pretty cool too.”

While the group have been playing their original tunes, they’ve also been revamping tracks from the back catalogue of both groups, reworking them to accommodate dual vocalists and extra instruments, which the frontman feels gives them a fresh vibe.

“Songs like Matinee and Walk Away have cool counter melodies and harmonies we don't normally do,” he reflects.

“Michael is electronic in a way it's never been before. When Do I Get To Sing My Way has a totally new arrangement and This Town sounds so raw - really powerful.”

There’s no end in sight for the project, following a summer that has seen the six-piece hitting the festival circuit. One of those shows saw the band play Glastonbury, which also let Alex watch Kanye West’s audience-dividing set. While he thought the rap king was a suitable headliner, the actual performance left him cold.

“Apparently it looked good on the telly, but standing in the field watching it, it was undiluted s***,” he says.

“It's a shame because I like a lot of what he has done, but that performance was about his ego, not the music and certainly not the audience. I think he was a totally appropriate headliner however, as he's one of the biggest stars on the planet.”

FFS, Barrowland, Wednesday, £25, 7pm