It was a huge learning curve, and a huge amount of fun – people remember it fondly even now, and I’d like to think it was a part of bringing together some people who still remain good friends now.

In any case, when my parents mentioned that they’d really enjoyed the IKTOMS gigs I used to run in London, and would have loved to have one on in Cornwall (where they live), I quickly found myself working out a way to get down there and do it. And we’ll be doing exactly that this weekend… myself, Fiona Bevan, Kal Lavelle and Stephen Long are hopping into a rental van and driving to the South-West, where the intention is to sun ourselves in some Cornish coves, write some new songs, and to play a concert on the Saturday night at Wringford Down. I really can’t wait! It’s been a long time since I allowed myself a weekend of free-spirited creativity, so very much looking forward to it.

If you’re not in or around Cornwall this weekend (and I suppose the likelihood is that you’re not) then all four of us will be bringing the show back to Kal’s own night, WE LOVE SUNDAYS, at the World’s End pub in Finsbury Park (not the one in Camden!) on the 9th May, so join us there! If you live further afield then we’re just going to have to up our game… and I’m feeling up for occasional challenges – name your city, town or hamlet and we’ll plan a new IKTOMS tour…

I’ll attempt to post some songs up here when we get back – we’ll be recording the show.

Over and out…

So after a period of absence, the nearly band have a couple of gigs – and they’re all in the next 5 days. Blink and you’ll miss us – we’re off to tour Asia for four years after these dates. Our fanbase out there is *huge*.

SUNDAY 23rd August – Green Note Open Mic (Featured Act) – one of our favourite open mics, and they’ve sorted us out with a place to try new songs and be amongst great folk musicians many a time. Free entry, good food, freedom lager, and us. It’s on Parkway, between Camden tube and Regents Park (game of frisbee after the show?)

TUESDAY 25th August – TABARANK @ Below Zero – The Absolute Ice Bar – We’ve not played here before, but we love the TABARNAK ladies. We’re a last minute addition to an already brimming bill. We’re especially big fans of HERE TO BAGHDAD, who are playing. Music starts at 7.30pm, so arrive early, and message me for cheaplist (£3) – it’s £5 on the door. There’s a facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=119836398865

AND! We’re planning on popping along to Kal Lavelle’s excellent night at the World’s End in Finsbury Park on the Sunday evening after the Green Note show, but we don’t know if there’s space for us yet. It’s only down the road, and the music will be good, so we were going to go either way!

I suppose we shouldn’t sign off without some news and hellos. There are four or five new songs, all in that stage between thinking ‘this is awesome’ and thinking ‘we should really write some words before we play this’. We’ll try to write the words before the shows.

We’ll also be doing a ‘secret’ (hah!) appearance at the IKTOMS WIRED FESTIVAL on Sunday 27th September. Keep the date in your diaries – it’s a free entry celebration of amazing music – it’s going to be massive sized! Check www.myspace.com/iktoms for details.

And between now and then we’re going to get all of our new songs in order, and become the best band in the world. Exciting times.

Hope you’re all well, and see you soon!

Doug McNaught & The Nearly Band xxx