Lawrence Arabia Announces Full Album Shows

Lawrence Arabia is taking on the ambitious task of playing all three of his full length albums live this May. The shows will see award winning musician James Milne play his debut self-titled album Lawrence Arabia (2006), sophomore album Chant Darling (2009) and latest record The Sparrow (2012) over two nights in Auckland and three nights in Wellington. The Sparrow shows will also find Milne accompanied by a string quartet and will include some 'old songs'. Here are the show details followed a clip from each album and a typically humorous  press release from the man himself.....

Undertherdar proudly presents...

Lawrence Arabia Plays His Albums In Full

Wednesday 28th May, Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland
Albums: Lawrence Arabia and Chant Darling

Thursday 29th May, Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland
Album: The Sparrow (plus old songs with string quartet)

Saturday 31st May, Puppies, Wellington
Album: Chant Darling

Sunday 1st June, Puppies, Wellington
Album: The Sparrow (plus old songs with string quartet)

Earlybird Season Passes which allow entry into all shows in each city are on sale now from HERE at UTR and in store at Real Groovy in Auckland and Slow Boat and RPM in Wellington. These will increase in price from next week when individual show tickets will also become available.

'Talk About Good Times' from Lawrence Arabia...

'The Beautiful Young Crew' from Chant Darling...

'The Listening Times' from The Sparrow...

Press Release:

Lawrence Arabia Plays His Albums In Full!

Call it pretentious, call it pompous – call it whatever P-word you like. Presenting an unbridled classic rock gesture of the highest order from one of New Zealand's least classic rock1 artists and human beings, Lawrence Arabia.

Over two nights in Auckland and three in Wellington, Lawrence Arabia and band will perform as faithfully as humanly possible all three Lawrence Arabia albums from start to finish. In Auckland, “Lawrence Arabia” and “Chant Darling” will be performed together on the first night, in Wellington, each night will showcase a different album. The final show in each centre will feature “The Sparrow,” plus other old favourites, accompanied by a string quartet and guest horn players, similar to the magnificent performances at Auckland Town Hall and Wellington Opera House in 2012.

For those of you who have been in a damned coma2, the albums we are talking about are these:

Lawrence Arabia. Released 2006 as kind of a companion piece to The Reduction Agents' “The Dance Reduction Agents,” its sound was an eclectic mix of simple electronica, folk and psychedelia, and its subject matter odd. (See “Business Planning” and “Everyone's Had Dinner With Rabbit.”)

Chant Darling. Released 2009, it was the first Lawrence album to be released worldwide through Bella Union, received the inaugural Taite Music Prize and featured the kind of hit “Apple Pie Bed” which won the APRA Silver Scroll.

The Sparrow. The “serious” third album released in 2012, featuring much piano, nocturnal atmosphere and dramatic string arrangements. Containing such dinner party favourites as “The Listening Times” and “The Bisexual,” it won the Tui for Best Male Solo Album in 2013.

Earlybird season passes are available now for a pretty darn value packed $40 plus BF. The earlybird price will end on Monday 31 March, the price will then increase to $45 plus booking fee. Individual night tickets will also be available.

Tickets through Under The Radar.

Auckland
Wednesday 28 May Kings Arms Tavern (Lawrence Arabia/Chant Darling)
Thursday 29 May Kings Arms Tavern (The Sparrow plus old songs with string quartet)

Wellington
Friday 30 May Puppies (Lawrence Arabia)
Saturday 31 May Puppies (Chant Darling)
Sunday 1 June Puppies (The Sparrow plus old songs with string quartet)