Big news for fans of the inimitable Canadian rock band Rush, especially those hankering for some new material - Lee, Peart and Lifeson will be returning to the Ireland/UK for some serious "Time Machine" touring action. Not only that, but the band will also be performing one of its key albums for the first time in the UK - not just some of it, but all of it.

"Moving Pictures" is perhaps the most popular and commercially successful set from the Canadians, despite the previous album "Permanent Waves" containing the huge classic, "Spirit Of Radio". This 1981 collection featured another biggie in "Tom Sawyer", as well as "Limelight" and the progressive "The Camera Eye"- all in all, the album continued the more straightforward part of Rush's history and the trio will be performing it in its complete form during the tour.

The seven dates were announced this lunchtime and include stops in Dublin, Glasgow, Sheffield, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and finally London at the O2. The tour runs from 12th to 25th May and is sure to sell out when tickets go on sale next Friday 26th November at 9am.

In addition, the band will not only perform other classics but also some new material from their proposed new album, tentatively-titled "Clockwork Angels". The set has already spawned a US single ("Caravan", issued in June), but now the band has set the wheels in motion for a Spring 2011 release. The shows are expected to be pretty lengthy - let's hope TFL don't screw it up for the London date!