Belle And Sebastian readying new album, first U.S. tour dates in four years

Unseen on these shores since 2006, Glaswegian twee-poppers Belle And Sebastian are preparing to reclaim their turf from all the sighing Scotsmen who have sprung up in their wake, prepping both their first new album since The Life Pursuit and a brief U.S. tour. According to a recent update on the band’s website (and as reported by Pitchfork), the band is currently in L.A. in “the final stages” of its as-yet-untitled record, after which it will begin playing some summer festival dates in Europe and Asia, followed by a handful of North American appearances and some south of the border, down Mexico way. That same update promises that “a few more US shows will be announced in due course,” followed by some in South America and the UK—including December’s Bowlie 2 festival in Minehead, England, which the group will curate—and that “plans are already afoot for touring throughout the rest of 2010.” Teenage Fanclub will open the group’s Brooklyn show, while Jenny Lewis’ recently formed cuddly-wuddly duo with boyfriend Johnathan Rice, Jenny And Johnny, will support in L.A. The list of confirmed tour dates is below.