"We're off up the mountains to get ready for our first ever full-on acoustic gig. It's all sounding pretty inspired too. Or at least it is to my pointy ears!"

"Wish us well - will let you know how it goes. If it goes well that is. And should it not go well? Hmmmm... Might stay silent for a few months in that case." - Jim, 5th April 2016

"Back from Zermatt/Switzerland and feeling pretty good re the first of our Travelling Light shows. Thanks as always to all who came to see us, making us feel so good throughout. Thanks also to Zermatt Unplugged for giving us the opportunity to show that Minds music seemingly can work in just about any format. We may have got off to a great start, but it is only a start. Can't wait to do a whole lot more of these acoustic type shows." - Jim, 8th April 2016

"The 'other guitarist' on stage with us at Zermatt Unplugged was (Glasgow's) Gordy Goudie. Writing, recording, producing, arranging etc. - Gordy has been a part of our team on and off since the Cry album in 2002. The acoustic arrangements of Speed Your Love To Me and Glittering Prize - highlights in Zermatt - are an example of one of Gordy's talents and I am sure he will contribute further. Although not included in Thursday's set, my own fave Gordy contributions to Simple Minds are the acoustic versions of songs from Cry. Cry Again was particularly beautiful, but the sensation of New Sunrise (New Sunshine Morning) gets me every time and is surely calling out to be included in future Travelling Light shows." - Jim, 9th April 2016

Zermatt Unplugged, Kaufleuten, Zurich, Switzerland
29th October, 2016
Main Set: The American / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / See The Lights / Chat / Glittering Prize / Stand By Love / Waterfront / Andy Warhol / Chelsea Girl / Someone Somewhere In Summertime / Chat / Dancing Barefoot / Speed Your Love To Me / Promised You A Miracle / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Sanctify Yourself
Encore: Alive And Kicking / Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)

This was the band's second special acoustic show.

"Rehearsals are finished. We now look forward to Saturday night when we will get to perform for the first time many of these new acoustic arrangements that feature on the soon to be released Acoustic album. After Zurich we have a few days off (the last for this year) and I have been thinking about trying to get back to Scotland asap as it will be my last chance this year to get some hiking/hillwalking done. Then the thought occurred to me. "Don't they have a few hills/ mountains in Switzerland? Is that not what the country is famous for after all?" Anyway, we will see what pans out. In the meantime just the other day someone asked if there is particular music I like to listen to while hiking? No, is the answer. I like to listen to the sounds of the landscape. However quite often certain songs come into my head. The Silencers' version of Wild Mountain Thyme is one of them. - Jim, 29th October 2016.

"Featuring a new acoustic band line up. Playing songs from throughout our career, plus at least a couple that we have never played live previously. That is quite a few "firsts" right there. See you tonight!" - Jim, 29th October 2016.

"Thanks to all for the reception in Zurich last night. We appreciate all the support that we are getting for the acoustic shows. It is obviously a new format for Simple Minds - and one that we intend to master - in our own sweet way. We really enjoyed ourselves last night. We learned some things. And it looked like we made a lot of people happy. What can be better that that? All that is left to say is thanks to the Zermatt Unplugged team. After all it was their invite to Simple Minds, back at the start of the year, that subsequently led to this new acoustic album from Simple Minds - soon to be released. They were the catalyst.. so thanks to all of them!" - Jim, 30th October 2016

Many thanks to Lionello for the pictures.

Hackney Empire, London, UK
10th November, 2016
Main Set: New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / See The Lights / Glittering Prize / Stand By Love / Waterfront / Andy Warhol / Chelsea Girl / Someone Somewhere In Summertime / Dancing Barefoot / Speed Your Love To Me / Promised You A Miracle / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Sanctify Yourself
Encore: Long Black Train / Alive And Kicking / Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)

Many thanks to Martin for all the scans.

This was an acoustic show, intended to kick off the release of the Acoustic LP.

It was broadcast by BBC Radio Two's In Concert. Jo Whiley introduced the song and also wrapped up proceedings.

Steve Harley joined the band for the final song, a rousing finale of his Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me).

"Let's start with everybody who came last night, as well as all who watched and listened on TV/on-line etc. Thank you very, very much. Simple Minds is a band that literally feeds on audience response and we will get better as a result of the response to last night's show. It was overwhelming... really. Between the gig and the release of the album today, it is right to say that another little piece of history is added to our story. A story incidentally that we are determined to continue with, as long as we can keep being creative that is, and as long as we have the desire and the curiosity to keep chopping and changing every so often. In doing so keeping things kind of fresh. Never fear... we will always return to our original force, but we do also need to play around and experiment, and so with that in mind, thanks again to all who are open-minded enough to give Simple Minds Acoustic a chance. And now to the BBC. How many major media channels around the world would be willing to give Simple Minds the opportunity that the BBC gave us last night? The answer is that there is none. It was the BEEB that first gave our band nationwide exposure back in 1979, and here we are all these years later still being given the ultimate chance to launch our new project. We just cannot thank them enough for the support both on radio and TV. Finally, grand thanks to Steve Harley. We were absolutely thrilled to have him on stage, as was the audience who joined in on the finale. It really was a magic night!" - Jim, 11th November 2016

"Not sure we said thank you in big enough fashion to Steve Harley for joining us at the Hackney Empire show, night before last. So let's rectify that now. I am sure many of you who were there, as well as those who watched the show on BBC will want to join us in saying a huge thank you to Steve!" - Jim, 12th November 2016