London audiences will get a chance to hear what Wilson referred to as a “teen-age symphony to God” for themselves beginning February 20 at Royal Festival Hall.

Wilson has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity as of late, with tours through Europe and Australia bringing in rave reviews and fans who have waited years to see the reclusive pop genius in concert. He released a live DVD from last year’s outing and in 2002 he captured his live version of Pet Sounds on CD.

Now, he’ll take Smile on the road. After four nights at Royal Festival Hall, Wilson will play dates March 2-8 around the U.K., including stops in Bristol and Liverpool.

That he’s continuing to tour at all is amazing in itself; he stopped touring with the Beach Boys in the ’60s and rarely played dates to support his two solo albums, largely owing to his fragile psyche, it is believed. But the fact that he’s unearthing Smile for the trek makes it history-making.

Since the album was abandoned in 1967 after promises were made that it would be an answer to the Beatles’ Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, fans have longed for the alleged masterpiece in its entirety.

In the ensuing 30-plus years, chunks of the album have found their way into the sunlight, some on the Good Vibrations boxed set. Many of the songs, including the classic “Heroes and Villains,” ended up on 1967’s Smiley Smile in different forms. Of course, bootlegs of the album have been available for years, but their veracity has never been confirmed by Wilson.

Though the quality of the bootlegs are iffy at best, it’s clear Wilson was on to something monumental; the album is full of lush, exotic orchestration and characteristic vocal harmonies (Jimi Hendrix once called the sound “psychedelic barbershop quartet”) filling out fragmented, reverb-drenched pop songs.

Suffice it to say, Wilson fans will jump at the chance to experience his vision fully for the first time.

More good news for BW fans: He’ll be playing selections from a forthcoming album (!) as well as Beach Boys and solo favorites.