Though The Pogues still owe Australian punters a tour to make up for cancelling a visit with the Great Escape festival in 2008, it seems that our chances of seeing Shane MacGowan and his folk/punk drinking buddies have taken another hit.

After almost 30 years, a rotating cast of members and a temporary breakup during the ‘90s it seems the group may be planning to disband (again) announcing a seven date UK tour that has been billed as the “Farewell Christmas Tour”.

Despite the “Farewell” label, founding member Spider Stacy has written a post on the Pogues’ official message board assuring fans that these won’t be the final gigs of the band’s career: “This is the last Christmas tour for the foreseeable future. That’s not to say we won’t be showing up at festivals here and there or maybe even the odd gig around the UK and Ireland and certainly in Europe. But we’re tired of dragging our weary, freezing carcasses around these drowning islands every December, so we’re going to give it a rest before you get tired of it too. Go and see the Libertines. They’re the best. Spider.”

So while this might not mark the end of the Pogues, it likely to be the final chance to hear the Pogues play the Christmas anthem Fairytale of New York over the holiday period and the plan to only play the “odd gig around the UK, Ireland and…Europe” certainly doesn’t sound good for Australian fans of the band.