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.

As the recording of the new Amsterdam album draws near, Ian will be producing a diary chronicling the ups and downs of the process. The first instalment is now available to read at www.myspace.com/amsterdamhq.

Also don’t forget the annual Christmas Amsterdam party takes place at the famous London Borderline club on Saturday 2 December. Tickets are available from www.ticketweb.co.uk and www.seetickets.com, and as ever the evening will no doubt prove to be a memorable one. So come and celebrate the festive season with your favourite band just days before they hit the studio.

Following Ian’s road traffic accident in Ireland last weekend, Amsterdam will now not play any shows until the Christams party in London on Saturday 2 December.

Also the recording of the next Amsterdam album has been re-scheduled to begin in Somerset a week later.

Ian wishes to thank everyone that has been in touch and would like to reassure Amsterdamsters that he is well on the road to recovery.