Doves announce full 2025 UK tour without frontman Jimi Goodwin
Following recent news of a new record, Doves have now announced details of a full UK tour for 2025 – where they’ll hit the road without frontman Jimi Goodwin.
The Manchester indie band confirmed their return earlier this month with the release of new single ‘Renegades’ and the announcement of sixth studio album ‘Constellations For The Lonely’. The announcement came after the members were forced to pull the tour for the record so that frontman Jimi Goodwin could focus on his mental health.
Initially, they announced details of three comeback shows, taking place in Stoke, Birkenhead, and Hebden Bridge this month. Brothers Jez and Andy Williams are taking on vocal duties while the frontman continues his recovery.
Now, they have confirmed details of a full UK tour for 2025, which comprises 15 shows across the country next spring.
The dates commence with an opening night at Glasgow’s SWG3 on February 25, and continue the following nights with stops at Edinburgh’s La Belle Angele (26) and Newcastle’s Boiler Shop (27).
From there, the remaining dates will all be held across March, and include stops at the Leadmill in Sheffield, London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, Liverpool’s O2 Academy and more. A homecoming show has also been confirmed for March 7, when Doves will play a set there for the first time in 15 years at the Aviva Studios.
Tickets for all new dates go on sale next Thursday (November 21) at 9:30am local time. Visit here to buy tickets and check out a full list of 2025 tour dates below.
Doves’ 2025 UK tour dates are:
FEBRUARY
25 – Glasgow, SWG3
26 – Edinburgh, La Belle Angele
27 – Newcastle, Boiler Shop
MARCH
1 – Leeds, Beckett SU
2 – Sheffield, Leadmill
4 – Liverpool, O2 Academy
7 – Manchester, Aviva Studios, home of Factory International
8 – Birmingham, O2 Institute
10 – Nottingham, Rock City
11 – Norwich, Waterfront
13 – London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
14 – Bristol, SWX
15 – Southampton, Engine Rooms
17 – Brighton, Chalk
18 – Oxford, O2 Academy
Speaking to NME about their upcoming record and plans to hit the road, Jimi Goodwin explained why he felt that this was the right time to sit out of the live shows. “I’m not going out live this time [but] the door’s not closed on that chapter; I just have to honour my sobriety and do what I need to in order to maintain that. I’m not ready to perform yet.”
“Jez and Andy have got my complete blessing. I’m absolutely thrilled for them,” he continued. “They still want to be jobbing and gigging musicians. It’s part of the package for them, and it is for me too, but right now I don’t want to upset any apple carts. You’ve not heard the last of me performing again with Doves.”
Guitarist Jez Williams also opened up to NME about how the band wanted to head on the road because of the importance it would have to fans.
“When we cancelled ‘The Universal Want’ tour, people were really fucked off that they’d bought these tickets after waiting for us since 2010, just for us to cancel,” he said. “People just want to hear the songs. We never got to play that album live. Jimi’s not ready, but he gave us his blessing, so we’re going to take the songs out live with us.”
“I’m singing the majority of the songs and Andy will be singing some too. It’s strange with Doves, the band is bigger than the sum of its parts. We’re going out there to play the songs for the people that want to hear them. Travelling is in our blood. We made the decision to do this between the three of us.”
Elsewhere in their interview with NME, Doves told us about the current chemistry between the band and the road that led to ‘Constellations For The Lonely’. “I create every day. I’m always making music – even in my lowest times, which I’ve experienced […] Creativity is my rock to cling to,” Goodwin said. “I’m just being candid, but now I’m on the right path and in recovery.”
When they hit the road, the Williams brothers will be joined by Nathan Sudders on bass [Elbow, Nadine Shah, King Creosote] multi-instrumentalist Jake Evans [Bad Lieutenant] and long-standing touring keyboard player, Martin Rebelski.
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Liberty Dunworth
NME
