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Doves are an English indie rock band which formed in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England, but most of their early gigs were in the city of Manchester. The band is comprised of brothers Jez Williams (guitar), Andy Williams (drums) and Jimi Goodwin (bass, vocals, guitar).

The formation of Doves can be traced back to Wilmslow, Cheshire, where the Williams brothers and Goodwin met at school aged 15. Jimi Goodwin was at the time playing in a band called "The Risk". Jimi played lead guitar with the band and the other members were Joe Roberts (vocals & Rhodes keyboard), Steve Green (rhythm guitar), Dermot Ahern (bass guitar), Jimi's cousin Pat Goodwin (drums) and managed by Tim Mulryan. The Risk used to practice at Handforth Youth Club and met with some moderate success, mainly playing in Manchester pubs and at The Gallery (Peter Street), The Boardwalk (Little Peter Street) and The International (Anson Road in Rusholme). They also played at The Tunnel Club, Greenwich and at SoapAid. A 5 track demo entitled take five was recorded at Spirit studios in Manchester.^[1]

In 1991, the Williams brothers and Jimi Goodwin formed dance collective called Sub Sub, which had moderate success in the early 1990s, most famously with the hit single "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)", which reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart.^[2] However, the Sub Sub's success was brief; their inability to produce a second hit drove them into obscurity.^[2] In 1995 the band's Ancoats studio burned down, causing them to abandon their previous dance-oriented style and start anew as alternative rock band Doves in 1998.^[2] The name "Doves" was derived from the phrase, "Like doves rising from the ashes", a reference to the burning of their original studio whilst working under the name Sub Sub.^[2]

The band released three EPs in 1998 and 1999 which established the group's new sound and met with a warm critical response.

Their debut album Lost Souls (2000), was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, which they lost to fellow Mancunian and former front-man^[3] Badly Drawn Boy. Doves' second album The Last Broadcast was released two years later, reaching #1 in the UK album chart and was again nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. This record contained the track "There Goes the Fear", which reached #3 in the UK singles chart despite only being released for one day before it was deleted. In 2003 the band released a B-sides compilation, Lost Sides, and a DVD entitled Where We're Calling From, recorded live at a gig in Cornwall's Eden Project.

Doves recorded their third album away from urban influences, and in cottages tucked away in the countrysides of Snowdonia in Wales, Darlington, England and around Loch Ness, Scotland. "Lyrically, the theme of cities and towns and change started cropping up a lot…which was strange because we were recording and writing in the countryside, but it started taking this real urban shape". says Jimi Goodwin.^[4] The band's third studio album, Some Cities, was released in February 2005 and went straight to #1 in the UK album chart, aided by some of the strongest reviews they'd received to date, and preceded by the single "Black and White Town," which reached #6 in the UK singles chart. The song "Black and White Town" was inspired by the social divide in their home town of Wilmslow. On 18 June 2005 the band opened for U2 at Twickenham Stadium in London.

The band are currently working on new material for their fourth LP. The album was expected to be released in late 2007 but according to their blog, it will be delayed since Andy will be a new father and will be taking some time off. New track titles announced on the official website include '10.03' and 'Winter Hill,' as well as working titles 'Disco Eyam' and 'Devils in the Detail.'

Doves' concerts are known for their background of alternative films playing in the background to different songs.

Main article: Doves discography

• Official website
• Early Doves interview 1998