Three years after headlining Laneway Festival, certified indie icons Yo La Tengo will return in February 2010. The longstanding outfit is among the first names announced for the Perth International Arts Festival, and they’ll be making time for headline dates as well.

The already formidable Yo La Tengo catalogue recently got even stronger with the release of Popular Songs. In the words of our reviewer: “Yo La Tengo aren’t about taking music into inaccessible places inhabited by a select few. They’re the people’s band. The band that has something for everyone. The band whose likeability is only enhanced by the fact they have the good grace to look more ordinary than you do.”

In addition to their main dates, the “people’s band” will play two ‘Freewheelin’ Yo La Tengo Shows’ in Sydney and Melbourne. These up close and intimate performances will be semi-acoustic and loosely-planned, with requests from the floor and audience banter.

Yo La Tengo present their Popular Songs at the following venues this summer. Club shows go on sale Monday 16 November.

Thursday February 11 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne (Freewheelin’ Yo La Tengo Show)
Friday February 12 – The Forum, Melbourne
Saturday February 13 – Moorilla, Hobart
Tuesday February 16 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane
Wednesday February 17 – Basement, Sydney (Freewheelin’ Yo La Tengo Show)
Thursday February 18 – Metro, Sydney
Friday February 19 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide
Saturday February 20 – Becks Music Box, Perth International Arts Festival