In what many thought was a potential breakup last fall, Bloc Party fans can breathe a little easier, as the band is back in the studio working on their follow-up to 2008′s Intimacy. The band announced in January that they have been in the studio demoing new tracks for the yet-to-be-titled album. After inking a deal with Frenchkiss Records, frontman Kele Okereke went on to say, “It is with great pleasure that i would like to announce to the universe that Bloc Party have now signed to Frenchkiss Records. This signing has made Bloc Party very happy because not only do we know and love the people at this label but we know and love this label’s output. Frenchkiss has released some mighty fine music over the years, music that has gone on to influence this very band.”
After completing their last recording contract, the relationship between the members of Bloc Party seemed tumultuous, at best. Okereke made comments in July of 2009 stating that since there was no recording contract, there were really no obligations or pressures to make a new album; in a sense, leaving the future of the band up in the air. With the release of his solo debut album The Boxer in 2010, as well as Lissack and Moakes working on projects of their own, this certainly didn’t help quell the fears of a breakup.
Since then, the question most fans have had is, when will they play some shows? Well, here is your answer, as Okereke wrote recently, “Hello internet. I know it’s been a long two and half years since Bloc Party last performed in the UK. Well it seems that wait is over, we are happy to announce a short run of intimate shows for our friends in the UK and our friends in the US.”
While this isn’t any major tour, it is something. There will be a few intimate and festival shows played in Europe, and a couple sprinkled around the US, which include a return to Lollapalooza, and a show at NYC’s Terminal 5. Last time they played Terminal 5, they did a two-show, sold-out stint, that tore the roof off the place. Tickets for the upcoming US shows can be found here: http://live.blocparty.com/

Bloc Party 2012 Tour Dates:
06/19 – Glasgow, UK @ Garage
06/20 – Manchester, UK @ HMV Ritz
06/21 – London, UK @ Koko
06/26-30 – Borlange, SE @ Peace and Love Festival
07/04 – Gdynia, PL @ Open’er Festival
07/08 – Turku, FI @ Ruisrock Festival
07/12 – Bilbao, ES @ Bilbao BBK Live
07/13-15 – Ferropolis, DE @ Melt! Festival
07/30 – Honolulu, HI @ The Republik
08/03 – Los Angeles, CA @ HARD Summer Music Fest
08/04-05 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Festival
08/04-05 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/08 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 *
08/11 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Cosmopolitan
08/16-18 – St. Polten, AT @ Frequency Festival
08/16-18 – Kiewitt, BE @ Pukkelpop
09/04 – Mallorca, ES @ Mallorca Rocks
09/05 – Ibiza, ES @ Ibiza Rocks

* = w/ The Drums
Bloc Party – Helicopter: