Luke said the following:

"Happy New Year! 2008 was an incredible year for me. I had the privilege of playing gigs in nine different countries and making so many great new friends in the process. I only started touring the UK properly at the end of 2006, so to find myself in Russia on New Year's Eve two years later is just bewildering but thoroughly wonderful. I'm so grateful to all the support that's been shown to me both at home in the UK, and also in all these new places. To start the year by having a Radio 1 live session broadcast to the whole of the UK, and to end it on tour in a different continent is a massive, massive privilege. I can't wait to see what the future brings.

I finish my degree this June, so this means I can then go on tour forever which is really great. However, it means I have to play very few shows until that time because I have to write a dissertation and other boring things. You'll be pleased to know that I'll also be writing songs for my upcoming third album, which is due to be recorded in July / August, and then released at some point before the end of 2009! I'm really excited about this because I'm going to have a new band, a new person recording the album, and obviously new songs. Get in. It's going to tear your face right off then trample it into the floor.

Once the album is finished, I plan to tour all of Europe, including the lovely UK (it's been too long) before Christmas as a four piece band. In fact, all my shows after the summer will be as a four piece band. More on that soon. Then at the start of 2010 I'll tour Asia for a couple of months, then anywhere else that I can get shows. I really want to go to South America, the US and Australia, but we'll see what happens. Also, this new album will hopefully be released worldwide on a variety of different labels, so more of you should be able to find it in your local record shops, wherever you live.

That's the basic plan for 2009 and beyond. If you can help me in my quest to visit some new countries on tour, no matter where they are and whether it's for venues or house shows, then please send me an email on luke@lukeleighfield.com and we'll try to make it happen. Until then, keep in touch and I'll see you on tour! Thanks as ever for your continued support.

PS - I'm having a big New Year's clearout in my online shop with t-shirts for £5, sweatshirts for £10, and a special offer if you wear large t-shirts where you can get three t-shirts for £10. You get a free A2 poster, postcards and badges with all orders so that's an added bonus. Stocks are extremely limited though so buy now to avoid missing out. I only have about two of every size and design! Check it out here. Thanks a lot!"