Cate Le Bon Returning To New Zealand For Five-Date Tour

Welsh psych-folk songwriter Cate Le Bon is returning to Aotearoa this February, for a five date summer tour in advance of the release of her fifth studio album. Le Bon will play piano joined by John Thomas (Islet) on synth and sampler to play stripped back, intimate re-imaginings of material from her diverse and adventurous back catalogue, including last year's Rock Pool EP and 2016's superb album Crab Day. A captivating live performer, Le Bon was last here in 2016 for a packed-out pair of unforgettable Auckland shows, this time around she'll be bringing the magic to the four main centres plus Oamaru. Here's the details...

UPDATE 11/12/18: support artists for Cate Le Bon's tour of Aotearoa have been announced, see the updated info below...

Undertheradar proudly presents...

Cate Le Bon

Tuesday 19th February - Fifty Gorillas, Dunedin w/ Death and the Maiden*
Wednesday 20th February, Grainstore Gallery, Oamaru*
Thursday 21st February - Blue Smoke, Christchurch w/ Pickle Darling*
Friday 22nd February - Meow, Wellington w/ Dawn Diver
Saturday 23rd February - Whammy Bar, Auckland w/ Purple Pilgrims*

Tickets available HERE via UTR*

Watch the video for 'Love Is Not Love' from 2016's Crab Day...

Listen to 'Perfume Days' from 2017's Rock Pool EP...

Check out a live clip of Cate Le Bon preforming her hugely popular single 'Are You With Me Now?'...

Press release:

Cate Le Bon returns to New Zealand for a five-date tour!

In mid-February, Cate Le Bon will tour New Zealand for a special pre-album release celebration – her fifth studio album, due out on Mexican Summer (Conan Moccasin, Ariel Pink, Weyes Blood, Dungen) in April, 2019. Cate will be playing piano, accompanied by John Thomas (Cate Le Bon/Islet) on synth and sampler, for a captivating and intimate rework of Cate's diverse catalogue of material. By the time Cate arrives, she will have performed a sold-out piano tour of the UK, in gorgeous, seated, historic surrounds; she is excited to shape that performance for audiences across a wide range of venues for her New Zealand run of shows.

In 2016, Cate and her band appeared at the Tuning Fork, and then a show at Golden Dawn, days later. It was packed, and for good reason - Cate is amazing. Her vocals are rich and warm, a delicious aural treat, enveloping you within a shell of intoxicating melody. Her multi-instrumental mastery simultaneously shreds and quells. The takeaway from Cate Le Bon's shows? A euphoric sonic experience – psychedelic, entrancing, quirky, poignant, dynamic and moving.

2018 saw the 2nd release of her weirdo-automatic-folk-ballad-krautrock side project, Drinks, with long-time partner in rhyme Tim Presley (White Fence) to much critical acclaim. In April of this year she travelled to Marfa, TX to work on a collaboration with Deerhunter's Bradford Cox during the prestigious Marfa Myths Festival. This musical kinship and mutual admiration for one another led to Cox to ask her to produce their new album.

In addition to all the above, Cate also undertook furniture-making study in the Lake District, performing at various festivals in the UK, continued with pottery, and many other pursuits. And she said this was her year off!

For those who love Cate already? A reason to be really excited about the middle of February.

For those uninitiated few? A new-found favourite artist.

File under maxi-minimal deconstructionist: for fans of architecture, night flights and the sea.