REM to preview new material in Dublin

R.E.M. is playing a set of five shows in Dublin this summer, where they'll be testing out material that is being recorded for a new album, reports Billboard. The shows are planned for June 30th, July 1st, and then July 3rd through 5th at the Olympia Theater.

The band is currently working with Irish producer Jacknife Lee, and hopes to have a new album out by the end of the year. They have said they are hoping for a more up-tempo record than their most recent album, 2004's Around The Sun, which was a commercial disappointment.

The last time the band played unreleased material in their live shows was over 10 years ago, while touring for 1994's Monster and writing new material for 1996's New Adventures in Hi Fi, some of which was recorded live.

The band's current single is a cover of John Lennon's "#9 Dream," recorded for a Darfur benefit compilation called Instant Karma. The single was recorded with the band's former drummer, Bill Berry, who left the band in 1997. It is available for digital download.

R.E.M. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 12th.