Utah Saints have released details of a short UK tour, but have been forced to delay release of their forthcoming album due to problems with a Michael Stipe collaboration.
The still-untitled second album, the long-awaited follow up to their self-titled 1992 debut, was originally set for a June release. However work on a track with the R.E.M frontman, an ardent admirer of the duo – Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt – has delayed release until August.
A spokesperson told nme.com: “There is no problem with the track. Michael Stipe has completed the vocals but they still need a couple of weeks work tweaking the rest of it.”
The band returned to the charts earlier this year with the single Love Song, after a five-year hiatus, during which they recorded an album, Wired World, which was never released. They also left their record label, London and signed to Echo.
The dates, originally timed to coincide with the planned June release will still go ahead.
The dates in full are:
Edinburgh, Liquid Rooms (June 19) Wolverhampton, Little Civic (June 21);Nottingham, Rock City (22) Glastonbury Festival, Dance Tent (23) Manchester, Hop & Grape (26) London Fabric (27).
Utah Saints are also set to appear at Glastonbury Festival, where insiders say they are likely to be joined on stage by funk legend Edwin Starr, who provided vocals for their current Top 30 single Funky Music. They also play the Reading/Leeds Carling Weekender on August Bank Holiday Weekend.
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