It is a quiet week for gigs out there on this peaceful little island of ours.

Among the few acts knocking about the place this week is Ian Thompson, the hard-working troubadour, who will be playing a few of his originals, along with a handful of covers at the British Hotel tomorrow night (Friday), from 8pm.

The Creek are hosting Little Miss Dynamite tomorrow night (Friday) and Baker Street on Saturday, both from 9pm.

However, one local musicians who is keeping himself busy is singer, songwriter and self confessed legend Alex Cowley.

This week sees the former Three Million guitarist release a couple of songs from his forthcoming ’Bored of Talking’ EP, released under the name ’Alex Cowley and the Backbeats’.

This week Alex releases two songs, ’Ghost of Elvis’ and ’Don’t Look Back’, featuring Alex himself on vocals and guitars, and with guest appearances from a host of friends and ex-band mates, including Three Million and Maldune members Gary Smith and Chris Honour.

He has recorded the songs with Dave McLean, and also recruited Dave’s grandson Jack on drums.

Both songs are light and delicate slices of well-crafted melodic rock that balances Alex’s obvious finely-tuned ear for crafting a song and his influences, that seem to stretch from the Beatles to modern indie groups.

Both the single release of ’Ghost of Elvis’ and the cover of the EP ’Bored of Talking’ have new artwork by the well-known cover artist Bruno Cavellec, who has also created covers for Scott Matthews, Imar and Clash Vooar, amongst many others.

Alex is currently working on the finishing touches to the final two songs of his EP, and hopes to have a release date ready soon.

’I’ve been a songwriter now since I was 16 and I love the discipline it takes to work with a song you’re proud of,’ said Alex.

’I like watching the process start from just being a simple song on an acoustic guitar to seeing it evolve into the final piece.

That is great for me and that’s why I’m in the music game to really craft my songs and then bring them to the public.’

Both songs are available to download from the Alex Cowley and the Back Beats bandcamp page on a name-your-price basis, and once the whole EP is recorded and released, it will be available on all formats across most major commercial music platforms.

Keep your eyes peeled for more updates from Alex.