After the international success of her self-titled debut, Aldous Harding continues to ascend beyond fleeting trends. Delving into more timelessly resonant territories of human experience, Aldous has established a firm stance worldwide as a fearsome recording artist and performer. In February, ahead of the release of her next record, Party, she’s set to play four special shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, leading a band of full instrumentation through new and old material. 

Produced with the acclaimed John Parish (PJ Harvey, Perfume Genius, Sparklehorse) in Bristol, Party comprises a formidable clutch of songs that swell with the gothic energy of her former work, embalmed with a newly explorative slant. 

Spanning sinister torch songs, gentle laments and eerie odes, don’t be fooled into thinking that Party belies a droll irony - a close listen and you’ll hear the twisted touches of humour, hubris and quiet horror. In other words, Aldous Harding enjoying herself. Stretching her limbs with playful cunning and fierce resolve; every note, word and arrangement posed with intellect and inventiveness. 

Beginning with a tour of the United States with Andy Shauf and performances at SXSW in March, Aldous’ 2017 touring schedule spans Europe, North America and the United Kingdom for much of the year. Having toured relentlessly for the past 18 months alongside such acts as Deerhunter, Frankie Cosmos and Perfume Genius, as well as to crowds at The Great Escape, Golden Plains and more, Aldous’ live shows continue to bewitch fans and first-timers alike. 

And so this is the moment to see Aldous Harding’s Party performed live in New Zealand ahead of its release - with full band and some spectacular guests, across four shows.

8 February sees her play in Christchurch at Blue Smoke with Oscar Dowling, whose track ‘The Life’ “taps into the same low-key but potent malevolence that seethed through early Smog” (Pitchfork). She’s joined by Dowling again the following evening at Wellington’s San Francisco Bathhouse, along with adroitly gumptious poet Hera Lindsay Bird. Harding then heads north to Auckland, where she will perform two very special shows at Avondale’s Hollywood Cinema on 10 and 11 February. She’s joined on 10 February by the Bob Scott (The Bats, The Clean); then on 11 February, with genre-bending multimedia group SoccerPractise (whose second single ‘Haere Mai E Tama’, sung entirely in te reo Māori, topped NZ’s alt charts for weeks in 2016), and Oscar Dowling in support. Hera Lindsay Bird, hailed by The Guardian as “New Zealand’s most exciting young poet”,  once again fills out the bill on both evenings. Both nights feature beer by Garage Project and special 35mm trailers, and shorts curated by Matthew Timpson. Judge Bao will serve up delicious eats on Friday 10th, and Saturday 11th will see food on offer from Wise Boys Burgers. 

Aldous Harding

8 February - Christchurch - Blue Smoke w/ support from Oscar Dowling
Tickets available from www.undertheradar.co.nz 

9 February - Wellington - San Fran w/ support from Oscar Dowling + Hera Lindsay Bird
Tickets available from www.justtheticketnz.com & www.undertheradar.co.nz 

10 February - Auckland - Hollywood Cinema w/ support from Bob Scott + Hera Lindsay Bird
Tickets available from www.justtheticketnz.com

11 February - Auckland - Hollywood Cinema w/ support from SoccerPractise, Oscar Dowling + Hera Lindsay Bird
Tickets available from www.justtheticketnz.com