The UK foursome and current kings of indie rock Bloc Party are scheduled to head Stateside before long, following a hiatus the band took last fall due to drummer Matt Tong’s lung collapsing. Tong appears to be fully recovered, and seeing as the band’s initial tour buddies Panic! At the Disco topped XLR8R‘s Worst Artists of 2006 list, round two should be worth the wait. Fans can look forward to hearing tracks off Bloc Party’s forthcoming album, A Weekend In The City, as well as opening performances by Sebastien Grangier (formerly of Death From Above 1979) and Final Fantasy.

Remixes of Weekend‘s single “The Prayer” are currently available on iTunes, and iTunes only. Paul “Phones” Epworth and Does It Offend You, Yeah? try their hand at the track, among others. Additionally, a 7″ version of the single, including the b-side “England,” will be given away for free with purchases of A Weekend In The City. The latter is available at select independent record stores only.

A Weekend In The City is out March 6, 2007 on Vice.

Tour Dates
03/11 Seattle, WA: Paramount Theatre
03/12 Vancouver, BC: Orpheum Theatre
03/13 Portland, OR: Crystal Ballroom
03/15 Austin, TX: SXSW
03/17 San Francisco, CA: Concourse Exhibition
03/19 Los Angeles, CA: Wiltern Theatre
03/20 Los Angeles, CA: Wiltern Theatre
03/23 Chicago, IL: Congress Theatre
03/24 Detroit, MI: Royal Oak Theatre
03/25 Toronto, ON: Kool Haus
03/27 Montreal, ON: Metropolis
03/28 Boston, MA: Orpheum Theatre
03/30 New York, NY: United Palace Theatre
03/31 New York, NY: United Palace Theatre