PEARSE Doherty, bassist and singer with one of Ireland's finest exports The Saw Doctors is getting in a bit of gardening.

As I speak to him at his home on the west coast of Ireland before the band embark on a 11-date UK tour, Doherty explains his interest in matters horticultural.

"We've just spent five weeks in the States and the weeds are about six feet high. I thought I'd best sort them out before we're off again."

Preston Guild Hall will be transformed into a riotous celebration of Irishness on April 26 when the Saw Doctors arrive in town and Doherty is looking forward to it.

"We always have a good time in Preston," he said. "The last time we were there we had children up on stage from the audience, everyone was on their feet."

A typical Saw Doctors gig then!

"We just want everyone to have some fun," he added. "This tour features 34 songs and a show lasting two-and-a-half hours. We've got an eight piece band including a brass section."

Among the band is former Waterboys' sax player Anto Thistlethwaite.

With a new album, Villains -- the band's sixth -- and a single This Is Me out next month, the Saw Doctors will be playing a number of new tracks on the tour.

But old favourites such as I Useta Lover willl feature prominently.

Entertaining is what the Saw Doctors do best, partly due to their Irish roots. But Doherty is quick to play down the band's Irishness.

"Bands like the Pogues are seen as a celebration of Irishness," he said. "With us it's very simple, what you see is what you get. We're rubbish musicians but we are very entertaining!

"We're a band of songwriters and we tend to write about things which affect us like environmental issues.

"It's a bit like Bruce Springsteen writing about New Jersey. You don't have to come from their to understand what he's talking about. You don't have to be Irish to enjoy our music"

The Saw Doctors play Preston Guild Hall on Friday, April 26.