The band returned to the London stage last night with a fantastic headline set at the Royal Festival Hall as part of the Forever Heavenly festival. The setlist was:

Firesuite
Snowden
Winter Hill
Almost Forgot Myself
Pounding
Sea Song
Jetstream
Rise
Break Me Gently
Kingdom Of Rust
Ambition
The Outsider
Caught By The River
There Goes The Fear

Encore:
Northenden
Black And White Town
The Cedar Room

Of the new material, Jetstream and The Outsider were definite single options (the latter being my choice for first single), with Winter Hill and Kingdom Of Rust sounding like strong album tracks.

The rest of the set was classic Doves, with Nothenden getting a rare outing, and Break Me Gently making a welcome return with a slightly different - but brilliant - arrangement.

After two and bit years, it’s great to have them back. And with such strong new material on the way, Spring 2009 can’t come quick enough. Maybe if we wish hard enough, Father Christmas might leave a surprise in our stockings…