With just less than a dozen dates left on the Shockwaves NME Awards Tour, electro-shoegazers The Big Pink have announced the re-release of their first 4AD single, 'Velvet', on February 15th, as well as a handful of headlining dates of their own in May.

'Velvet' originally came out in April last year and when reviewed by myself and Lauren, we seemed agreed on one thing - it was (and still is) a cracking choice for a single. The difference between the two releases is a brace of new B-sides on the download-edition, including a remix of 'Velvet' and a cover of Otis Redding's 'These Arms of Mine', plus a 12" physical release with the same songs and a new sleeve.

More importantly, the duo will hit the road for their own batch of gigs in May beginning with the Oxford O2 Academy on the 7th and continuing to the Leadmill in Sheffield (8th), The Garage in Glasgow (9th), Manchester's Academy (11th), Birmingham's O2 Academy (12th) and finally the HMV Forum, Kentish Town on the 13th. Tickets are a tenner except in London (surprise, surprise) where tickets will cost £12.50. All are due to go on sale at 9am on Friday 12th February.

Although their debut album, 'A Brief History of Love' is yet to win everyone over, the appearance of Top 30 single, 'Dominos', on Xbox adverts during the festive season has kept the single ticking over as a download (and paid for a few over-due library books I should wonder) and ensured the band's profile is continued until their next release.