Having already tasted chart success with Pele (‘Megalomania’, ‘Fair Blows the Wind for France’, ‘Raid the Palace’), Wirral born singer songwriter, Ian Prowse, a man obsessed by Springsteen, the Clash and Kate Bush, formed and now fronts Amsterdam. The band gained immediate critical acclaim, appearing on BBC1 with Jonathan Ross and supported Elvis Costello at the request of the man himself. The single ‘Does this train stop on Merseyside?’, which would later feature on debut album ‘The Journey’ appeared in John Peel’s final Festive Fifty with the legend commenting that if it was up to him it would be 'in at number one'. Following his untimely death, Peel's widow Shelia introduced the song at the end of BBC Radio 1’s tribute show, by saying 'Out of all the songs he loved this is the one he would have wanted me to play the most'. Then, with massive public support, follow up single ‘Takin On the World’ beat all comers including Elbow, the Go Betweens and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, every day for an entire week on Jonathan Ross’s Breakfast Show, but it missed the Top 40. In 2008, Paul Du Noyer (NME/Q/Mojo/Word) gave his personal tip for Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year as 'Ian Prowse and his band Amsterdam , I think their time has finally come'. The band gigged throughout the year and put in a stunning performance that wowed the assembled throng at Glastonbury , but mass popularity has mysteriously continued to elude them.

Only a few months into 2009 and the year has already seen their second album,  ‘Arm in Arm’ voted 14^th in the list of all time albums to come out of Merseyside by Liverpool.com, some achievement when you think of the competition, whilst the great Christy Moore has included his rendition of ‘Does This Train Stop on Merseyside’ on his latest album. Amsterdam remain a compelling act, both in the recorded form and on stage. Come and see for yourself and don’t just take my word for it…..