Whilst the band continue to reminisce on social media, here’s my entry. Another one for the ‘best Doves gigs’ catalog. This time its the Blackpool Empress Ballroom gig from 2004, the last of a trio of shows pre-xmas the band did to preview material from the upcoming new album Some Cities.

Fans came from far and wide for this one. In kind Doves treated fans to new tracks such as Snowden, Ambition and Black and White Town. A rare outing for Darker went down a storm! I recall Pounding being especially good this night!

Black and White Town was released as a digital download a few days prior to this gig. I recall being a bit peeved at having to join the digital revolution to be able to hear the new track! An ipod swiftly followed. Here’s some pictures I took on the night..

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Doves @ Blackpool Empress Ballroom Dec 17 2004. One of the best gigs I ever saw them play! Top night. @dovesofficial #doves #dovesband

A post shared by Nicky (@nickymc82) on Jan 20, 2019 at 12:05pm PST

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Riff valley ! Footage shot by @mike_tv99 ..#doves

A post shared by Doves (@dovesofficial) on Jan 16, 2019 at 7:53am PST

Apologies its taken me so long to do so, but many thanks to Gibbo & Darren O’Toole for allowing me to use their photos for the new website header! Gibbo’s photo above was the inspiration. James Bimson did some photo wizardry, I loved it and I thought Darren’s photo’s of Andy & Jimi complemented Gibbo’s Jez pic rather nicely. Thank you chaps!

Several of you have been asking about Echoes in the Alleyway. The site is now live again. Of course with it being over 8 years old, many of the links are no longer active but the music is still there! The album raised over £1800 for the Teenage Cancer Trust. I think its quite fitting the site is live again, just a few months before Doves perform at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Visit: Echoes in the Alleyway

Going through the archives, below is my ticket from the 2003 Royal Albert Hall show. It may have been 16 years ago but my memory of the show is still quite vivid. Listening back to the show again recently, Doves rose to the occasion as they sounded great live that night, it still stands as one of their finest live shows. Openers Asian Dub Foundation didn’t really go over well. Unlisted on the ticket, but the first opener was Doves own Rebelski, it may have been his first live performance? He was joined on stage by Jimi & members of Beats For Beginners and I also seem to recall John Paul Jones?

Not that I’m counting or anything, but apparently its only 78 days til we’re back at the Royal Albert Hall! Roll on..

Wishing you all a Happy New Year! After years in the wilderness, 2019 promises to be a busy year for Doves. The band are now deep into live rehearsals. See you on the road somewhere!

 

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Back to hatton ,HQ. remembering /rehearsing Kingdom#dovesband

A post shared by Andy williams (@andywdoves) on Dec 28, 2018 at 12:30pm PST

I know the suspense has been killing you all! Apologies for the delay in picking the winner of the Cedar EP comp, I got kind of side tracked there for a bit! But fear not, I ended up putting all entries into the draw, over 200 of you! The lucky winner is Angela Powner via her entry on facebook. In the interest of fairness, here’s the video to prove it! 🙂

Well done Angela!

Unsurprisingly tickets for Doves Teenage Cancer Trust show at the Royal Albert Hall sold out quick on Friday, the fastest seller of the concert series apparently! If you were unlucky not to get tickets, keep your eye on the official sites, there have been reports across social media of tickets popping up on the official ticket selling sites over the weekend. Failing that the TCT have partnered with Twickets who will donate their booking fee to the TCT:

Teenage Cancer Trust Tickets at Twickets

As previously mentioned Doves will join Noel Gallagher in Manchester & Dublin in June. Tickets on sale via these links:

June 7th Manchester Heaton Park Tickets

June 16th Dublin Malahide Castle Tickets

More gig announcements are expected.

Jimi spoke with Elizabeth Alker at 6 Music the other day, you can listen to the interview at the 6 Music site here. It starts about 45 minutes in. Jimi talks about the possibility of new material and just being back with Doves.

I believe Doves have played Heaton Park in the past, 1999 as part of a free Radio 1 live fest thing along with the likes of James. There is a bootleg out there, not that I have it or anything! 😉

Whilst we’re delving into the past, here is the page for the last time Doves played the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust back in 03. The reviewer is complaining about having to pay £3.50 for a pint of lager!

Along with the news Doves are back with a gig at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust, today we also learned that Doves will join Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at two shows. At Dublin’s Malahide Castle and a hometown show at Manchester’s Heaton Park. Full details on the tour page.

Radio X’s Gordon Smart caught up with Jez live earlier today to get Jez’s thoughts on today’s news and how it all came about. You can listen to the full interview here, it starts 30 minutes in. If you don’t have the time to listen, the big take-away from it is that Doves apparently “reformed” over a cup of coffee! Here’s an exclusive shot of the meeting..

The waiting is over! In 2010 Doves announced an indefinite pause. Nothing lasts forever. Doves will break their hiatus to perform for the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall, London on Friday 29 March 2019. Tickets go on sale Friday 9am. More announcements to follow.

For ticket info visit the Teenage Cancer Trust website.

After almost a decade away Doves have resumed live rehearsals and creative exchanges. DMB will of course follow the band through what promises to be an exciting 2019!

For the very latest breaking news, follow the band on social media Twitter / Facebook and their newly created Instagram

The official website is now live at dovesofficial.com 

The old Doves web forum is incredibly busy at its new home on facebook, feel free to join! The old web version is still online here.

Phew! Cya on the road.