AHEAD of their return to Bridgwater, The Saw Doctors reveal why they have been drawn back to the town after such a warm reception on previous visits to Somerset.

The band will play at The Palace Theatre in Penel Orlieu on Tuesday, December 11, as part of a tour which sees them perform at more than 20 major venues around the country to celebrate 25 years together.

The Docs will be taking a trawl through their past records, playing songs from their latest ‘best of’ album, 2525, which traces their success from debut single N17 to last year’s charttopping Downtown featuring Petula Clark.

Expect to hear other favourites such as It Was Summer ’88 – Did You Think That I’d forget?, I Useta Lover and Michael D, a tribute to Michael D Higgins – an early supporter of the band and now president of Ireland.

For the first time they will be touring with new backing vocalist Lindsey Cleary, who they met while working with Petula Clark and has been with them ever since a joint performance for the Gay Byrne RTE TV special this summer.

Band co-founder Leo Moran said: “Over the years The Saw Doctors have played Glastonbury a few times and we’ve made some great friends with people in Somerset.

“We’re looking forward to the Palace gig at Bridgwater during the Winter tour – it will give us the chance to meet all the gang from Shepton Mallet who have come to our gigs in the South-West and beyond again and relive old memories.

“The Palace is lovely and intimate and the Somerset audience are among the most enthusiastic supporters of The Saw Doctors, ever since the band’s first visit to England in 1991.”

Tickets cost £22 from Strings ’n’ Things, West Quay Records, via www.midnightmango.co.uk or by calling 08444-771000.