Kurt Vile & The Violators New Zealand Tour Announced

Away from Aotearoa far too long during this mixed-up decade, Philadelphia guitar hero / songwriting kingpin Kurt Vile and his band The Violators are returning to our shores for a three date headline tour. Last here playing sold out shows in 2019, Vile has since released his 2022 studio album (watch my moves), a sprawling 15 track opus featuring contributions from friends and fellow travellers Cate Le Bon, Chastity Belt and Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint. Finally back down under celebrating his new record, Vile's storied oeuvre encompasses such beloved long players as 2018's Bottle It In, 2015's b'lieve i', goin down... and his 2017 collaborative record with Courtney Barnett Whole Lotta Sea Lice. There's no doubt demand will be sky high to catch Vile and band bringing the magic to Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington in March — grip the official details and don't snooze...

Kurt Vile & The Violators

Thursday 23th March - Auckland, Town Hall*
Saturday 25th March - Christchurch, James Hay Theatre^
Sunday 26th March - Wellington, St James Theatre*

Tickets from Ticketmaster*
Tickets from Ticketek^

Presale starts 9am, Friday 20th January
General on sale from 9am, Monday 23rd January
Sign up to the Banished presale HERE

Watch Kurt Vile's moves playing 'Mount Airy Hill (Way Gone)' with The Violators on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert...

Kurt Vile parks for free in the 2018 video for 'Loading Zones' from Bottle It In...

Press release:

Philadelphia psych-pop master Kurt Vile and his band The Violators are making their triumphant return to Aotearoa for three very special shows.

A long-time favourite with New Zealand audiences, this formidable live outfit will be here playing in support of Vile’s celebrated recent album (watch my moves).

Kurt’s ninth studio album finds him truly at the top of his songwriting game. His first for legendary label Verve Records, (watch my moves) has garnered glowing praise from fans and press alike, and features notable guest appearances from the likes of Chastity Belt, Cate Le Bon, and Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint.

On his latest album, Vile pulls his talents in unexpected directions—and the result is a vibrant, yet meditative album propelled by Vile’s laid-back charm and curious spirit. Every lyric has been chiselled down into an aphorism, every bloom of distorted guitar or murmuring synth helping create that “fried” pop.

“It’s about songwriting. It’s about lyrics. It’s about being the master of all domains in the music,” says Vile of the new record, much of which was recorded at OKV Central, Vile’s Philadelphia home studio. “I’ve come into my own here, and at the same time I’m getting back to my home-recording roots.”

Don’t miss this guitar hero and his rockin’, road tested band when Kurt Vile & The Violators return to NZ for the first time since their 2019 tour.