Amsterdam are preparing to hit the recording studio in a farm near Bath to start work on the follow up to The Journey. The boys will begin in the last week of October and are currently demoing up new tunes in Liverpool.

Most long-term Amsterdam fans are aware that The Journey was actually a compilation of the two previous ‘internet only’ albums and the beginnings of a third internet album so the boys are very excited to be going in to do a full, proper album for the first time in a while.

“This one will sound more like a cohesive record, more like a whole statement. We’re going to encrypt each copy with special magic to stop people skipping songs on their iPods” said Ian.

Also the boys are out over Autumn playing some dates, with more to be announced soon. Confirmed so far are:

Liverpool – Carling Academy – Saturday 14 October

Belfast – Valfest St.Galls GAA – Saturday 21 October (Ian acoustic show)

Liverpool – St Georges Hall – Monday 6 November (Closed show for 2008 Culture company)

Scarborough – Vivaz Club – Friday 15 December

Portsmouth – Wedgewood Rooms – Thursday 21 December (Joe Strummer tribute with The Neville Staple Band from the Specials)

Ian will be performing an acoustic slot this weekend at the Hope Street festival in Liverpool. There will be FREE entertainment all along the street that connects Liverpools two catherdrals all day long on Sunday 17 September.

Ian will be playing a 45-minute set upstairs at the Rodewald Suite inside the actual Philharmonic Hall, NOT the Philharmonic pub as previously reported. The entrance is via Sugnall Street.

The show will still begin at about 2:15pm and our man promises three or four brand new songs as well as some old favourites rarely heard.

All sorts of activities will be taking place for the people of the city on Hope street from 11:00am until 5:00pm so feel free to come along if you’re in the area. More info is available at
www.hopestreetfestival.com.

Also the Amsterdam can confirm that The Missin’ Beats and brilliant new band The Real Kicks will be supporting the boys at the Carling Academy in October. Tickets are already avaialble from www.seetickets.com and www.ticketweb.co.uk.

Amsterdam stole the show yet again at this years Mathew Street festival. The boys drew the biggest crowd to the Pier Head south stage of any band at the three-day event and unleashed a 55-minute set upon an adoring audience.

Amsterdam were joined onstage by violinist Anna Jenkins and singer Laura Critchely for some of the songs. The set list was:

Intro
The Journey
The Gangster
Class war in the Bedroom
Raid the Palace
Glorious Day
Love Phenomenon
Joe’s Kiss (with intro)
Megalomania
Takin on the World
Does this train stop on Merseyside?
You’re a phoney
Intro
Town called Malice

The boys next show will be at the Carling Academy in Liverpool on Saturday 14 October. A blistering night of new and classic Amsterdam songs is promised. You can already buy your tickets from www.seetickets.com and www.ticketweb.co.uk.

Thanks to CJ for all the great pictures from Monday’s Mathew Street show – you can view them in the forum.

And don’t forget to read Ian’s gig diaries for the recent shows.

The boys put in what was probably their best live radio performance yet on the Janice Long show on Wednesday night.

Again praise poured in for Amsterdam from the listeners as the boys performed Taking on the World as well as two brand new songs The Lament and Class War in the Bedroom, both of which have been very well received.

The between song banter was also of the highest quality. You can listen again for a few days at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2.

Don’t forget this is the big weekend for any discerning Amsterdam fan as the boys play the world famous Mathew street Festival in a prime time slot of Monday afternoon at 3:45pm down at the Pier head in Liverpool.

Amsterdam will do a 45-minute sett. The boys stole the show last year so there is immense anticipation for this years event. A warm up show at the Red Lion venue in Ellesmere Port will take place the night before.

Is there anything you’d like to get Janice Long to ask the boys on Wednesday evening? Or any particular song you’d love to hear?

Get in touch with the show at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2 or email at janice.long@bbc.co.uk.

The boys have been busy stealing the show at two festivals these past weekends. The Graig Aid organisers praised Amsterdam as a cut above any band they’d ever had.

And Sunday night saw the gang wow a wet Yorkshire audience at the Beached festival as they fired through a 30 minute set, apparently receiving the best applause of the weekend.