WEST country fans waiting for Lawson’s return don’t have to hang on much longer as the fab four are back in Bristol's Thekla on November 7, kicking off a series of intimate gigs to coincide with the release of their eponymous EP.

The band are currently on a 12-date tour with Robbie Williams in Australia, but the Gazette was lucky enough to catch guitarist Joel Peat just as the boys came off stage in Melbourne.

“It’s such a buzz out here, being back on the road and playing with Robbie is amazing” said Joel. “But it’s making us all knackered actually, because we usually can’t get to sleep for four hours after a gig!

“This is the first big support tour we’ve done in a while but as we haven’t done much in such a long time it’s great to be out on stage again, building up the band.”

“The UK tour is all about easing us back in, really; just some gigs for the fans and getting everyone involved again," adds Joel. “Being on the Thekla is going to be a huge contrast to the arena gigs we are doing out here but it’s going to be brilliant; it’s great to see the whites of the fans’ eyes!"

The band have just released a new eponymous four track EP ahead of new tracks ahead of the release of a new album, which has been recorded in Tenessee. It has been a long time coming, but Joel promises it will be worth the wait.

“We recorder the album in Nashville, which was just amazing,” says Joel.

“Hopefully it’s just us, but more grown up and mature.

“We are all really proud of what we have achieved. At first we were trying to push away from the boy band image, but now we are just happy as we are. Whatever people think of us is up to them. A lot of people care about what we do and we try and honour that fanbase – we’ve been far too quiet for too long!”