Back in London again . Photos thanks to Raphaël Dupouy.

Click on each one to view larger sizes.

london shot     man it was cold

Thanks to Peter Paton for the photos. Taken at Eros.

In late November and early December Luke played gigs at number of locations including Paris, London and Gothenburg  as well as other parts of England.

Here are some notes from those shows.

PARIS
Paris is like a theme park full of the expectations a tourist would
have of it.  At Notre Dame there is a strange interplay between the “merchants” and the tourists.

No street players in evidence but no shortage of rich beggars. Much intolerance for one and total acceptance of the other. In the vicinity kitsch shops and very expensive cafes abound. A cup of coffee will set you back ten bucks kiwi.

Saint Michel
Played near the fountain and inevitably got closed down. Strange habit of mine playing anywhere at anytime for anyone who will listen.  I call this practice “meet the police”.

Strange how playing gentle music to people is not tolerated anywhere in the world!

The best Paris gig was at the GREEN LINNET.  Check it out if you are a musician. The owner has a very encouraging attitude and easy to work with.

He told me that Rory Gallagher was obsessive about guitar There was nothing else in his life Hope I don’t get like that Love guitar but its not the center of my life

I guess the center for me is more about people than music. People are endlessly fascinating.

LONDON
A few days prior to my show there it looked like we would have to cancel. There was a concern that I was not going to draw a crowd!

It went ahead anyway and the result was contrary to expectations.  It was a full house. A great atmosphere in that place.  People I had not seen for decades turned up.

Along with a lot of Londoners who were suitably impressed Can’t help being a bit proud of the way it turned out

November 28th, 2008 at 12:18 pm Lindsay wrote a few hours after the Alma concert

“Just heard Luke at the Alma. I was worried that nostalgia would have tinted my rosy coloured memories of Luke but he was great! Better than great and better than I remembered.”

SWEDEN

is AMAZING . Played two gigs at Gothenborg University .

Note: If you were lucky enough to see / hear Luke In Paris, London or Gothenburg please write your comments below or send us a review.

London  the most exciting “world” on earth if you B.Y.O joy.

The tube is a magic kingdom that puts a whole world on your doorstep.

“Luke’s signature song “Mona Lisa” is about someone who gave up all to leave home to get to see Leonardo’s great work “(“through plate glass they let me see her”) only to find himself bemused and confused by all the incidentals. (Check downloads for a free copy of Mona Lisa.)

He wrote the song out of his imagination and now comes to the Northern Hemisphere for the first time to actually play at the Alma/ London* & the Louvre / Paris and sing the very song that made his name on the far side along with a large repertoire of great songs/instrumentals written over a long and successful career.

(Please note: London concert has changed from 13th to 27th of November . – Paris more details to be released but date and location are – Nov 22: Paris at the Green Linnet ) Read Gig Details in Francais

Not a one hit wonder he also is known for classics like “Japanese Overdrive” “Make Room” “Gravity” (co written with Dave Rob) “Fait Accompli” to name a few and more recently his world winning “The Sound” (five star rated on you tube and released on i tunes UK).

Though out of the limelight for sometime he has worked on further styles of playing to exhibit a guitar style unique to acoustic music.

The instrument he plays is an SB (Steve Barkman) which sounds like a sitar-mandolin-guitar and looks like an ancient type of celtic instrument that somehow never got invented until Steve Barkman created
it.

Luke is renowned for keeping it real and working against the odds to bring high art to the people wherever they may be from on the street to in the concert hall.  Check out this website.

Luke is happy to do interviews if anyone wants to call or send email questions -Contact Luke.

Luke Hurley, New Zealand’s favourite independent singer-songwriter will be playing his exclusive one and only London gig on 27th November as part of his European tour. The Event will be held at The Alma, N1.

With 25+ years of experience under his belt, Luke Hurley is one of his country’s most famous and prolific independent solo artists.

He has been described by the industry as ‘one of New Zealand’s great unknown musicians’ and compared to Bruce Cockburn and Ron Sexsmith, who also evolve outside the commercial mainstream.

With songs such as “Mona Lisa*” and “Albatross” that brought him success, Luke has toured with many Kiwi artists but is more likely to be found at fringe festivals or even busking. (*Download a free copy of Mona Lisa)

He is currently touring the UK to promote his new album “Brother Sun – Sister Moon” and will be playing a one-off London date before his hugely anticipated gigs in Paris.

The Alma is a New Zealand run gastro pub in Newington Green, N1 and has already welcomed onto its floorboard the likes of Simon Amstell and Perrier award winner Josie Long. The pub will be celebrating its 6th Birthday on 27th November in correlation with Luke’s gig.

Luke Hurley : http://www.lukehurley.co.nz/gigs/
Venue : The Alma,
Doors: 7pm
Price:  free tickets but bookings needs (was £15 but changed)
Adress: 59 Newington Green Road, London, N! 4QU
Tube : Highbury & Islington
Train : Canonbury Station

Licensing: It is a private party, all ages are welcome but under 18s have to be accompanied by a legal guardian and  will have to leave the pub at 9.30pm.