Thanks Adrian for your reaction. Just been to germany and bought a 1999-album by a Liverpudian band called Shack, the album HMS Fable is absolutely great!! This is superb Britpop and many so-called Britpopband could learn from this. Shack came out of early 80's band the Pale Fountains. Great remark I just read that the Undertones have no bad tracks! I think this really shows their class and sets them above most other bands: no bad tracks! The Jam, The Beatles and the Moondogs are also bands without bad tracks. Maybe that is the true mark for a good band???

Is anyone still looking for a copy of Undertones Unearthed? I've no idea if it has any left, but I just got a copy this week from Detour Records Mail Order [01730 815422]for £15 + p&p.

Shack - good band but not as great as their previous incarnation - mid-80s The Pale Fountains. Across the Kitchen Table is an album of theirs I would recommend with stand out single 'Jeans Not Happening' being my favourite song of 1985. A friend of mine in Liverpool was a friend of the band and used to play footy with the Palies. I was invited to their New Years Eve bash in Liverpool in 1985 and drunkenly insisted to Michael Head of the band that aformentioned single was the best song that year. He must have thought I was mad.

Does anyone know who the support act is at the Feile an Phobail Belfast gig. I heard that Bam Bam and the Calling (played with Undertones at the Vibe) will be playing at the Gasyard Festival also. I have decided not to go to the Bryan Adams gig in Derry. I am sure the Undertones will go down a storm in the support slot, but I just can't bring myself to pay that money for a Bryan Adams ticket.

Although it is my birthday just before the gig so if someone else was to buy the ticket for me! Hope she is reading this!

Regarding the support band for Belfast, I was talking to a guy I know fairly well on Saturday called Leigh (who used to be in a band called The Price). Apparently, according to Leigh, the support band for Sunday are called 'Neck' - he knows this because he's in the band!! A guy called Leeson O'Keefe, who used to be in a band called The Shout and later Genius Freak, fronts the band. Apparently Leigh is only standing in on guitar, but he felt duty bound to 'mention' the fact that he was supporting The Undertones!

I received the West Belfast festival programme yesterday. "The evening starts off with 'Neck' led by ex popes star Leeson O'Keefe". There is also an alcohol free feile in the park on the afternoon with 'Cub me Cullough' and Feile FM roadshow. As well as carnival parade and previously mentioned fun run. No other volunteers yet for the run? On the saturday night 'Maambeni' are playing, and for those staying over until wednesday you can see Atomic Kitten on the Tuesday night.

I am currently working on a number of Undertones based PC games - card games with Undertones cards etc. Will make them available when they are finished.

I don't think my posting about new releases came over very well Typed words can come across differently sometimes. What I meant to say is I would welcome any new stuff by the Undertones as undoubtedly it would be good but I think we are all certain it wouldn't sound like any of the previous albums. I used Blondie as an example just because they sprang to mind at the time. I'm not exactly sure if they are still planning anything else at all. I just feel very wary when I hear of comebacks. A quick tour and then disappear for another 5 years isn't a comeback to me. Thats a revival and I don't really like revivals as too often they feel like a cash in (Roxy Music perhaps as Ferry seems to have financial problems). But there is a market for this so fair play. The Undertones doing gigs regularly (and every 6 months or so is regular) is a sort of revival I guess but feels better - feels like a proper band to me. I think my words are not going where I want them to go again. Normal service will be resumed shortly (I hope).

Short posting for a change - great reviews of the gig - thanks to all concerned. Great photo's Jackie. Was Billy's hair really like that in '81 ?

First enquiries about December are good both at home and at work. Anyone confirmed to be going yet and which gig ? Anyone got any details on options from B'ham - saw Cliff's but B'ham looked expensive so perhaps drive to another airport might be the best.

Lee - I'm sorry I must disagree but if a band is returning just to continually play old stuff then thats a revival in my book. I've continually hoped for new stuff from the Undertones as I'd only be interested in seeing them again and again to hear new songs. You can't criticise Blondie for cashing in on their reputation because, as I said, they played a set in 1999 that was about 33% new stuff and 66% old songs.

Looks like me and Henry will be visiting you quite a lot next season Dave!

hi about new stuff from the tones talk to billy aftre the last gig with cliff and i think he said they had new stuff but when we will hear it i dont know