Hugh Laurie exclusive live session: Wild Honey
The performance was part of a special concert on the Queen Mary, a retired ocean liner moored at Long Beach, California.
After the success of Hugh Laurie’s debut album, Let Them Talk, on which he celebrated and revived classic material from the world of NOLA blues, the British actor-turned-blues singer will release his second album, Didn’t It Rain, on May 6 on Warner Music.
Didn’t It Rain sees Laurie follow the trajectory of New Orleans blues upstream and into the American heartland. It includes songs dating back to early pioneers W.C. Handy (St Louis. Blues) and Jelly Roll Morton (I Hate A Man Like You) to more recent artists such as Dr. John (Wild Honey) and Alan Price of The Animals (Changes).
“I have resolved to forge on, deeper into the forest of American music that has enchanted me since I was a small boy,” says Laurie.
“And the further I go, the more bewitched I become – both by the songs and by the people I have been lucky enough to play them with.”
Produced by Joe Henry, Didn’t It Rain features the Copper Bottom Band – Jay Bellerose, Kevin Breit, Vincent Henry, Greg Leisz, Robby Marshall, David Piltch and Patrick Warren with Elizabeth Lea and Larry Goldings – as well as Guatemalan singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno and soul singer Jean McClain, who has previously worked with artists as varied as Jimmy Cliff and Sheryl Crow. The album also includes a collaboration with Grammy-winning blues artist Taj Mahal on Little Brother Montgomery’s Vicksburg Blues.
Didn’t It Rain will be released on CD, as a deluxe edition book and CD, on vinyl, and on digital (including an iTunes exclusive package).
Having earned acclaim for their shows in support of Let Them Talk, Hugh Laurie and the Copper Bottom Band will follow the release of Didn’t It Rain with a major UK tour in June.
Didn’t It Rain, is out on May 6.
Pre-order the album: didntitrain.hughlaurieblues.com/uk
LIVE DATES:
June
13th – Bristol, Colston Hall
14th – London, Hammersmith Apollo
15th – Oxford, New Theatre
17th – Brighton, Dome
18th – Birmingham, Symphony Hall
20th – Manchester, O2 Apollo
22nd – Edinburgh, Playhouse
23rd – Gateshead, Sage
Tickets are on general sale from now, priced at £40 / £35 for London and £35 / £32.50 for all regional dates.