The group recently announced an extensive tour schedule without any Irish dates, leaving many wondering whether they'd be visiting our shores this year.

It now looks like they'll be taking to the stage at Punchestown on July 11-13.

R.E.M.'s new album Accelerate is due out in late March. Recorded in Canada and here in Ireland, Michael Stipe and the band had a 'live rehearsal' of the album during their five-night residency in the Olympia Theatre last summer.