The newly announced shows will take place ahead of their largest arena tour to date and will include a performance at the O2 Academy Bournemouth on Tuesday, March 31.

This comes alongside the release of a definitive singles compilation titled Nothing But Love – The Definitive Best Of, a collection that chronicles the band’s journey from early singles to fan favourites, as well as new material.

Alternative rock band James, performing at the O2 Academy in Bournemouth this March. (Image: Ehud Lazin)

The compilation includes two brand new songs, Wake Up Superman and Hallelujah Anyhow.

Both tracks were produced by Leo Abrahams, who also worked with the band on their most recent album Yummy, released in 2024.

Following the March warm-up shows, James will embark on their biggest ever arena tour.

The tour will kick off on April 3 at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena and will continue with dates in Leeds, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, Cardiff, Nottingham, London and Manchester.

Special guests Doves will join James for the arena dates throughout April at venues such as the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, The O2 in London, and the Co-op Live in Manchester.

With more than 30 million albums sold over their career, James are amongst the most commercially and artistically successful alt rock bands of their era.

Having gathered a cult following around art rock gallops like Johnny Yen in the 80s, they broke through to mainstream success with their major label debut Gold Mother in 1990 followed with a slew of euphoric anthems: Come Home, Sit Down and Laid.

Their fifth album, Laid, saw them break the US charts, while Whiplash in 1997, Millionaires in 1999 and Pleased to Meet You in 2001 cemented their standing as a classic 1990s act with Tomorrow, She’s a Star and Just Like Fred Astaire.

In April 2024 James released their 18th album Yummy which reached #1 in the UK albums chart, their first studio album to do so and second overall.  One of their most prescient releases, Yummy deals with politics, AI and conspiracy theories, and documents the creative process of a band who continues to evolve and defy expectations.

The band played their largest UK Arena tour to date last year, selling out the 20,000-capacity Co Op Live arena in Manchester and The O2 in London, they followed this up with a Johnny Marr co-headline tour in the US and Canada.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit wearejames.com.

Tickets for the Bournemouth show go on sale from Friday, February 20 via the band’s official website.