British actor Hugh Laurie (House, Mr. Pip) is not coming to New Zealand for a movie premiere or to film a new television series - he's going to be singing and performing for you instead.
Laurie, a long-time musician has for the past decade been working away on two albums and a documentary series about his first musical love - the blues. Now he's coming to Auckland and Wellington, bringing the lively Copper Bottom Band with him.
Based around songs from his two albums (Let Them Talk, 2011 and Didn't It Rain, 2013) he's promising an eclectic mix of blues, tango, Southern and South American music, delivered with his inimitable, sharp British humour. You can expect songs from early pioneers like WC Handy and Jelly Roll Morton, and contemporary artists like Dr John, and Laurie will be playing the piano and hollering at you in his best blues voice.
"We're all thrilled to be coming to New Zealand to perform. I love the country, and the band loves air miles. We're going to put on a terrific show. I might wear a kilt," he quipped.
They'll be performing at The Civic in Auckland on Tuesday, April 15, and at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington on Wednesday, April 16. Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster and Ticketek respectively.
The Naked and Famous have announced they are returning from their extensive North American tour in April to join the Groovin' The Moo festival tour in Australia, with several headlining sideshows, so there might be a chance they'll pop down here for their first headlining show in more than two years. Keep your eyes peeled for a show in May, we reckon.
Finally, rap's biggest ego, Kanye West, has announced a five-date Australian tour in May, and though promoters haven't confirmed a New Zealand date yet, they also say, "It hasn't been ruled out". Watch this space.
- TimeOut