Doves are reuniting for a tour without frontman Jimi Goodwin.
The Manchester indie rockers have announced their first shows since 2019, but twins Jez and Andy Williams will be stepping in to perform lead vocals as Jimi has decided it’s best for his mental health if he sits out the live performances to “maintain” his sobriety.
The three intimate shows will take place on November 27 at Stoke’s Sugarmill, November 28 at Birkenhead’s Future Yard, and The Trades Club in Hebden Bridge on November 29.
Jimi, 54, told NME: “I’m not going out live this time.
“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.”
The musician insists he’s not done performing with Doves, but now is not the right time.
He added: “Jez and Andy have got my complete blessing. I’m absolutely thrilled for them. 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, also 54, says the tour is for fans who were left disappointed when they were forced to cancel their ‘The Universal Want’ tour, which included a UK and Ireland tour in 2022, due to Jimi’s struggles, and promised fans will hear the songs live for the first time.
He said: “Jimi is still working on his sobriety and mental health.
“When we cancelled ‘The Universal Want’ tour, people were really f****** off that they’d bought these tickets after waiting for us since 2010, just for us to cancel. 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.”
Drummer Andy added: “We don’t know what the future looks like. We’ve been working really hard for these intimate gigs, so we’re really looking forward to it.”
Joining the brothers are Nathan Sudders on bass, Jake Evans, who has toured with Jimi in the past, and Doves’ regular keyboard player, Martin Rebelski.
After cryptically teasing fans, the band returned this week with the new single ‘Renegades’ from their upcoming sixth studio album ‘Constellations For The Lonely’, which is due for release on February 14, 2025.
‘The Universal Want’ – which topped the charts in 2020 – was the trio’s first studio effort since 2009’s ‘Kingdom of Rust’.