Doves return to the stage for their first UK gig in nearly 3 years, taking time out from finishing their hugely anticipated fourth album, playing as part of the Forever Heavenly festival, celebrating 18 years of the Heavenly Recordings label. New songs will be played live for the first time, alongside classics and the odd rarity. This is the first time Doves will have performed at the Royal Festival Hall. Support comes from Cherry Ghost and very very special guests.

Tickets cost £30 from www.southbankcentre.co.uk or by phone on 0871 663 2500. Tickets are onsale now to Southbank Members. If you are not a Southbank Member, please quote the password Heavenly when buying tickets. Tickets go on sale to the general public tomorrow.

Spine-tingling stuff this. Here is a stripped back acoustic set from Manchesters finest Doves. The songs were recorded at Capitol studios in the states back in 2004 whilst the band were on tour promoting The Last Broadcast. The quality of these recordings is second to none. Enjoy.

1. Caught By The River [download]
2. New York [download]
3. Friday’s Dust [download]
4. There Goes The Fear [download]
Bitrate: 160kbps

On the new album front nothing has been heard from the band since December of last year. Here’s a message from from the band, taken from their online blog.

December 21, 2006
Thought it was time to say hello & write another one of our regular blogs.

For anyone under the impression that we’ve been sitting back holidaying/taking it easy, they’d be mistaken, we’ve been grafting hard for the last few months, writing lots & lots of songs / music, last month we relocated temporarily to a cottage in the Peak District, Derbyshire (next to a llama farm - that’s the front cover of the album sorted) for a change from our regular M56 studio & it’s done us a lot of good, creatively that is.

This record has required a little more writing & work to find a direction, something that feels new to us, that’s just the way it us sometimes, but thank f**k we’re getting there now.

We’re hoping to get in the studio proper Feb ‘07 to record these songs fast (that’s the plan anyway) & we’re aiming, all being well, for summer/autumn 2007 release.

Andy,Jez,Jimi x

Doves - Black & White Town (music video)