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IF DOVES are known for anything, it is for their heart-tugging epic soundscapes, a trait they share with their fellow modest Mancunians Elbow.

So how would they fare in a stripped-back setting for the inaugural outing of the Miller Filtered Music mini-season of intimate gigs, which purport to “filter out the unnecessary” from live performance (the sponsor’s way of describing an acoustic show, one presumes)?

Doves are hardly the most dynamic performers anyway, so a sedentary unplugged gig did not prove too much of a handicap. If anything, the set-up threw their aching melodies into relief.

While they were in mellow mood, they wisped through a cover of Willow’s Song from the Wicker Man soundtrack, with Jimi Goodwin hoping nobody would notice that he was a middle-aged meat-and-potatoes indiebloke singing the part of a sylph-like soprano.

To read the full review, click here.

Not too much video around of the show at the moment. Though the promoter Filtered music are saying over at facebook, that official video will be posted soon! Here’s a good one of a slowed down version of Black And White Town..

If you have video to share, give me a shout using the email addy at the bottom of the site cheers!

Setlist from tonight’s acoustic set at Glasgow’s Oran Mor. Many thanks as always to NLF who also sent in a couple pics from the show..

The Scottish News Of The World caught up with the band in their barn. A really interesting interview it is too, cheers to Clarion for the heads up..

BAND ARE READY TO TRY NEW THINGS EVEN AFTER TEN YEARS AT THE TOP

IN a corner of Doves HQ lies a pile of abandoned boom boxes, reel-to- reel tape recorders and ancient cassette decks.

They’re the kind of relics you’d find, dusty and ignored, at the back of any junk shop.

But, along with drummer Andy Williams’ kit, which sits in its own spot over by the fireplace, and the rack of guitars belonging to his brother Jez, they’re key weapons in creating the band’s rich, inventive sound.

Everything else here, however, is the most up-to-the-minute music technology available, a legacy of their days making club tracks in a scene where producers routinely obsess over the latest gadgets.

“Our songs are really ongoing investigations,” confesses bassist/frontman Jimi Goodwin. “They start to reveal themselves as you’re working on them.”

And inside their HQ, a converted farm building midway between Manchester and Liverpool, it’s the combination of the outmoded and the state-of-the-art that helps shape multi-layered classics like last year’s world-beating fourth album Kingdom Of Rust.

To read the full article, click here.

As expected a few artists dropped out. Though sadly the group who were going to do House Of Mirrors have split up! Considering the album title it would be cool to have that track on it. If there is anyone who wants to do this track and can do it by the end of the month then do get in touch. But no biggy otherwise.

Tomorrow sees Doves play an acoustic set in Glasgow at the beautiful Oran Mor. If you are going, have a great night! Let us know how it goes.

Very cool photo! By Sarah Stevens

Doves go stratospheric on day one of Green Man

With a beautiful venue, a stellar line up, a great variety of real ales and the best festival food you could ever desire (with a special mention to the rotisserie chicken!) what else could you want to make the perfect summer festival? Oh, did I mention that this heavenly sounding weekend takes place in the land of my fathers, Wales? On the way to the rolling hills of the Brecon Beacons the rain starts, right on cue, halfway across the Second Severn Crossing. After a respite from the rain in 2009 it was clear that 2010 was going to be business as usual.

Taking on the moniker of “Band most likely to do an Elbow” are Doves which is strange as they have had two number one albums but is most likely because they are ‘northerners’ and perhaps more ‘mature’. They have promised to go stratospheric for some time now but have never quite managed to make that crossover but with more performances like their headlining set on the Main Stage could see that happen sooner rather than later. Closer ‘There Goes The Fear’ leaves everyone humming the riff on the way back to their tents or to continue the evening at one of the smaller stages.

To read full efestivals review, click here.

A festival with real ales? Sounds like heaven.

Picture by gigwise.com

A few pics of Doves appearance at V Festival Weston Park. Sadly from reviews at Doves board it sounds as if Jimi wasn’t sounding himself first night.

According to the NME, Jimi also didn’t have the best of times at the second set in Chelmsford thanks to some twats..

Doves played their “last festival for quite sometime” on the final day of the 2010 V Festival (August 22) – though it was marred after a section of the audience who appeared to upset the band.

Performing on the 4Music Stage, the group played a career-spanning set, though midway Jimi Goodwin was antagonized by something in the crowd apparently directed at him.

“Real classy shit, yeah?” he angrily asked part of the audience, though it was unclear what had upset him. “You think you’re shitting me? I’m going to have to come out there and kick the shit out of you, and I mean it, yeah!”

The sour note came in an otherwise upbeat set from the Manchester three-piece, who bantered with the crowd throughout the slot, often asking “Essex how ya doing?” in a comedy southern accent.

To read the full NME report, click here.

Setlist from Chelmsford:

Snowden
Push Me On
Pounding
Winter Hill
Jetstream
Kingdom Of Rust
Black & White Town
Caught By The River
There Goes The Fear
Spaceface

Fans posting on Doves facebook wall confirmed that it was a bunch of idiots throwing bottles at the stage, some of which had hit fans in the front rows! What a disgrace. Sadly its not the first time this has happened at V. Hopefully those of you affected were able to enjoy Doves one last time. Only a couple more gigs left (assuming nothing else is added..) then that’s it for a wee while for Doves.

With that, I expect the blog will take some time out too. Will take a wee rest, then spring back to life when one of the talked about side projects surfaces.

Perhaps one of the more interesting Doves vinyl releases for sometime. Doves are featured on the flipside of the Green Man festival 10 inch EP.

Received my copy today. Whilst the track was given away for free by Caught By The River.. nothing beats hearing it the way its meant to be heard in its full glory on your record player.

Copies are still available at Rough Trade, not many though apparently. So get one before folks are hawking them on ebay for silly money.

Get yer copy

Otherwise, I haven’t got much else for you. Anyone got anything to share?

Right now enjoying the new single by Brighton based synth group Mirrors. Check it out. Ralf Hütter is looking great these days!

Setlist thanks to Richtdev! Spaceface was not played.

A review in today’s Scotsman of last night’s Edinburgh show by Gary Flockhart.

TINNITUS- inducing roars of appreciation rang out around the HMV Picture House as 1500 punters welcomed their heroes on stage last night. The object of their affection, Doves, were in town to play the first big gig of this year’s Edge Festival, and the mostly 30-something crowd knew they were in for a set brimming with atmosphere and tension from beginning to end.

You don’t get a whole lot of razzmatazz at a Doves gig. The band don’t rely on hideously over-the-top stage theatrics a la Muse and U2, and their between-song patter consists of mutterings to one another – presumably – about guitar strings. But they get away with any lack of charisma because the music is so damn affecting.

To read the full review, click here.

The show has literally just finished, setlist as always thanks to NLF. If you went, or was at last night’s show in Scarborough do let us know how it went on. Apparently people were jumping into the lagoon at the front of the stage at Scarborough? Sounds like an interesting show!