As Monday’s release of his eagerly anticipated second album ‘Didn’t It Rain’ approaches, Hugh Laurie is set to play a special live session at Abbey Road’s historic Studio 2 TOMORROW (Friday May 3rd). Studio 2 was the home of many of The Beatles’ most famous recording sessions, including of course the ‘Abbey Road’ album.
Commencing at 7pm, Hugh Laurie will perform songs from ‘Didn’t It Rain’ for the session which will be streamed live on Google + through his official YouTube channel. He will be joined by the Copper Bottom Band’s touring line-up – David Piltch (bass), Vincent Henry (horns), Elizabeth Lea (trombone), Jean McClain (vocals), Gaby Moreno (vocals), Herman Matthews (drums) and Mark Goldenberg (guitars).
‘Didn’t It Rain’ sees Hugh Laurie depart the sounds of New Orleans as he follows the trajectory of the 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,” explains 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.”
Again produced by Joe Henry, ‘Didn’t It Rain’ was recorded at Ocean Way Studio in Los Angeles in January of this year, with Laurie performing with the Copper Bottom Band. The album also highlights a very special guest in the shape of the Grammy-winning blues artist Taj Mahal who contributes vocals to a new take on Little Brother Montgomery’s ‘Vicksburg Blues’.
Having earned widespread critical acclaim for their shows in support of the debut album ‘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:
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
Any remaining tickets are available now, priced at £40 / £35 for London and £35 / £32.50 for all regional dates. They’re available from www.livenation.co.uk
