The new year is only just upon us but already it's looking likely to belong to the north coast instrumental rockers.

As well as being nominated for the XFM Album Of The Year 2009, closer to home the lads have picked up a nomination for the Irish based Choice Music Prize and alongside the likes of Bell X1 and Neil Hannon's side project, stand a fair chance of picking up the accolade.

It would be the icing on the icing of a hell of a year for the hardest working band in the north who tore strips from the Ulster Hall just before Christmas with track after beautiful track from their debut self titled album.

Material wise, up next it's The Letters EP after a succession of dates across the country, north and south, and the UK grounds their mantra further into the skulls of anybody close enough to be sucked in.

But it's the small local gigs that always showcase ASIWYFA at the top of their game, able to let their hair down that little bit further among friends.

And after locally launching their album at the Cellar Bar last year at a history making G Session, the local venue has become like a second home. And riding that crest to headline the Small But Massive main stage at Glasgowbury 2009 was quite simply a phenomenal experience for all concerned.

So expect to hear material old and new when And So I Watch You From Afar play the Cellar Bar in Draperstown this Friday night (January 22nd) with support from The Cities We Captured and Pretty Child Backfire. Doors around 9pm.