INDIE-rock group Ride have announced an intimate warm-up gig in their hometown.

The Oxford band, who confirmed they had reunited, late last year, will play one of just three warm-up shows worldwide at the city's O2 Academy, in Cowley Road, this Easter Sunday - their first at the venue, previously known as the Co-op Hall, then The Zodiac, for more than 20 years. It will be the band's first gig in the city since 1994, when they signed off at the Jericho tavern.

The other shows will be in Oxford, Los Angeles and Brooklyn. The gigs come ahead of their UK, European and North American tours, announced last November. 

News of the gig came out this morning, but was dismissed by some fans as an April Fool's hoax.

After the show, the band - Mark Gardener, Laurence ‘Loz’ Colbert,Andy Bell and Steve Queralt - will fly to California to play The Roxy in Los Angeles on Wednesday, ahead of their performance at the Coachella Festival. They also play The Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on June 1, ahead of shows in Toronto and New York.

The last time Ride performed together was in 1995 at Spain's Benicàssim Festival. 

The announcement confirmed earlier hints by Mr Gardener, a former Cheney School student, that the band would remember their hometown fans by playing the city. Talking previously to the Oxford Mail, he said: “Oxford will not be forgotten. I have not forgotten my Oxford roots.

"It feels really good as there is obviously still a lot of respect for our work. For any artist that is amazing.”

Thanks to @RideTheNetwork for background on band's history

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