Alt-rockers Coldplay [ tickets ] will give fans a taste of their forthcoming album with a free song download and a free show in New York City.

The band has booked a June 23 gig at The Big Apple's Madison Square Garden and will give fans a chance to win tickets. Further details about the free concert will be posted tomorrow (4/29) at Coldplay's website.

Also tomorrow, the band's new single, "Violet Hill," will be offered up as a free download for one week at Coldplay's website. The freebie comes just as the tune debuts at radio and one week before it goes on sale at digital retailers.

The song is the lead track from the UK rockers' fourth album, "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends," which is slated to hit North American record outlets June 17. The set, produced by Brian Eno and Markus Dravs, follows 2005's Grammy-nominated "X&Y," which entered The Billboard 200 at No. 1 and has since sold more than 10 million copies on the strength of modern-rock/pop hits including "Talk," "Fix You" and "Speed of Sound."

In addition to the gig in New York City, Coldplay has a similar free concert scheduled June 16 at London's Brixton's Academy, as well as a July headlining performance at the Pemberton Festival in British Columbia and a pair of August shows at the Summer Sonic festival in Japan. North American dates are listed below.

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