All at Amsterdam HQ would like to wish all Amsterdamsters everywhere a great and prosperous new year.

Meanwhile the boys have been invited to play a special show for England Rocks at the world’s most famous recording studios, Abbey Road.

The show will unfortunatly be a closed one but the boys are very excited to be playing live in Studio 2 where The Beatles recorded alomost every note of their music between 1962-70.

Also the gang have just learnt that the truly legendary Irishman Christy Moore is preparing a cover version of Does this train stop on Merseyside?. The lads are beyond thrilled with this latest accolade for the song.

Also, do check out Ian’s new studio blog and the traditional end-of-year-interview which are both now online.

Work on the new album resumes in January.

Amsterdam will pay tribute to the greatness that was Clash lead singer Joe Strummer not once but twice over the next few days. Joe passed away four years ago this week.

Firstly the band will play on Thursday 21st at the famous Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth. Ian has played here more than any other touring musician so it’s very close to the Amsterdam heart. Neville Staples Specials are also in attendance and our boys will be playing a full set. Tickets are available from
www.wedgewood-rooms.co.uk.

The night after on the 22nd Ian and Paulie will again honour Joe with an acoustic set at the Carling Academy in Liverpool. Other acts to appear on the night include The Crescent, The Aeroplanes, Western Promise and Radio Clash. Tickets are available from Ticketweb or Seetickets, or you can pay on the door.

Plus, there are photos from the current studio sessions in the photos section of this website, as well as Paulie’s blog live from the studio, in the forum.

Tickets for Amsterdam’s first ever unplugged show featuring the gang and a gaggle of other musicians are now on sale at www.liverpoolphil.com.

The boys also hit the studio this week down in Somerset to begin work on the third Amsterdam album in earnest.

Keep your eye out for the annual Amsterdam interview reviewing the year with journalist Alan O’Hare which will be up live on the site very shortly.

Ian was also recently featured in the Liverpool Daily Post, where the newspaper took a look at his city centre flat. Read the full article at icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk.

The festive season officially bagan last night following Amsterdam’s Christmas show and party at the Borderline in London.

Paulie resumed his new role, kicking things off by singing the call-to-arms intro from Takin’ on the world, and with the crowd happy to help out for the duration of the set, it wasn’t long before the packed venue was in full Christmas party mode.

With the lovely Anna Jenkins helping out on violin for some of the older numbers, the set included:

Intro (Paulie)
The gangster
Class war in the bedroom
Nostalgia
Joe’s kiss
Raid the palace
Fair blows the wind for France
Love phenomenon
Arm in arm
Takin’ on the world
Does this train stop on Merseyside?
New one
You’re a phoney
Intro
Glorious day

Megalomania
Town called malice

Unfortunately, due to a mix up at the Vivaz club in Scarbobough and the boys desire to get cracking with the new album, the Friday 15 December date has now been postponed. The show will be rescheduled for early next year. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Amsterdam can now announce their first ever ‘unplugged’ concert at the Philharmonic hall (Rodewald Suite) on Friday 16 February. This will be the first show the boys will have done after recording the new album and a full ensemble of musicians is promised as well as some special guests.

Ian commented ‘We’re all very excited by this show because we’ve never done anything like this before. It gives us a fabulous opportunity to play some of my songs in the setting they are supposed to be heard and play with other musicians who aren’t actually in Amsterdam. The more emotional tunes will be to the fore on this night, I can’t wait.’

Ticket information for this special one off will be announced very soon.

For those of you coming to the big Christmas party in London this Saturday night get there early to see Lucky Jim. Gordon Graeme who leads Lucky Jim used to be in the Lost Soul Band who did many shows with Pele in the nineties – listen to their superb music at www.myspace.com/luckyjimmusic.

The boys will again be joined by the fabulous Anna Jenkins on violin and tickets for the big party are still available from www.ticketweb.co.uk and www.seetickets.com or you will be able to pay on the door. Don’t forget to stick around afterwards for the Amsterdam party which will be lead by the band in full swing!

Also, tickets for the last Amsterdam performance of the year at the Joe Strummer show in Portsmouth on December 21 are going very quickly so to avoid disappointment book at www.wedgewood-rooms.co.uk now. This show will sell out.

The Neville Staple Band (from the Specials) will also be playing and our boys will be playing a full set.