U2 have delivered a very big and welcome surprise to fans this Christmas via an Instagram video. Bono announces that 2017 will be a big year for U2, with two key points.

First, Bono confirms that Songs of Experience, the follow-up album to 2014's Songs of Innocence, is coming. This album's release has been anticipated since 2015, so it's nice to know it's finally coming out - though there are no further details yet.

Second, there will be some "very special shows" for the thirtieth anniversary of The Joshua Tree. Fans are already speculating whether the band will play the album in full - Red Hill Mining Town has never been played live, only soundchecked in late November 1987, Trip Through Your Wires was last performed on 20 December 1987, and Exit on 14 October 1988 (its only post-JT Tour appearance). It is also not known whether these special shows will be part of a resumed Innocence + Experience Tour or something separate, and how this celebration will be balanced with promotion of Songs of Experience. There are rumours of a formal announcement in January, but take that with a grain of salt as we cannot vouch for the veracity of this.

Interestingly, Billboard ran an article that originally contained some extra information but has now been revised into something rather different and much less detailed. The original version stated that the Joshua Tree shows will be in stadiums, including at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. These shows would take place in the Northern spring and summer, with North America first and then Europe, and U2 would also play the Bonnaroo festival (8-11 June) in Manchester, Tennessee. All of these details have now been removed for reasons unknown.

PS Apologies for the delay with this news. As you can appreciate, the U2gigs team have been marking Christmas, and we hope all of our readers are having a pleasant holiday season. Take care and enjoy good times with the people you care about.