John Cooper Clarke Announces New Zealand Tour

UK punk poet John Cooper Clarke will be bringing his cutting wordplay back to New Zealand for a series of shows this coming March. He is famous for a winning run of late 70s records recorded with Factory Records producer Martin Hannett (producer of Joy Division and Happy Mondays) and has more recently collaborated with UK rockers The Arctic Monkeys and Plan B. The rakish artist will be accompanied by songwriter Andrew Fagan of Wellington hitmakers The Mockers for a special run of shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Here’s the details…

Undertheradar proudly presents…

John Cooper Clarke with special guest Andrew Fagan

Saturday 21st April, Crystal Palace, Mt Eden
Sunday 22nd April, The Vic, Devonport
Monday 23rd April, St Peters on Willis, Wellington
Tuesday 24th April, The Piano, Christchurch

Tickets are available HERE from UTR

Here’s the classic clip for Dr. John Cooper Clarke’s punk poem ‘Chickentown’…

Listen to Cooper Clarke’s biting popular single ‘Beasley Street’…

Here’s a recent video of the artist performing his poem ‘Smooth Operetta’…

Press release:

Legendary UK punk poet John Cooper Clarke announces NZ shows.

The people’s poet - British legend Dr. John Cooper Clarke will perform four New Zealand shows in April.

The tour is proudly presented by Plus1, 95bFM and UnderTheRadar.

Tour and ticket details – John Cooper Clarke with special guest Andrew Fagan:

Sat April 21: Crystal Palace, Mt Eden (Tickets at UTR.co.nz)
Sun April 22: The Vic, Devonport (UTR.co.nz and TheVic.co.nz)
Mon April 23: St Peters on Willis, Wellington (UTR.co.nz)
Tues April 24: The Piano, Christchurch (UTR.co.nz)

Tickets for all four shows are available immediately from UTR.co.nz

John Cooper Clarke has spanned cultures, audiences, art forms and continents.

Today he is as relevant and vibrant as ever; his poetry and performance is in school syllabus’ worldwide, his effect on pop culture and music is profound, and his trademark ‘look’ continues to resonate with fashionistas

His influence can be heard within the keen social observations of the Arctic Monkeys and Plan B. Both of these collaborations resulted in number 1 albums. The Arctic Monkeys put one of John's best loved poems, I Wanna Be Yours, to music on their critically acclaimed A:M Album.

His 2018 world tour – including these New Zealand shows – is a mix of classic verse, extraordinary new material, hilarious ponderings on modern life, good honest gags, riffs and chat.

This is a chance to witness a living legend at the top of this game.

Opening the bill is special guest - and local writer, sailor and musician - Andrew Fagan, blasting out material from his 2018 poetry collection (including poems from the Overnight Downpour, Salt Rhythms, and Serious Latitudes volumes).

Fagan was lead singer for Wellington punk band The Ambitious Vegetables formed in ’78. He continues to write and show-off - whether it be on stage with his bands Fagan & The People, and The Mockers, or with pen in hand through is poety and sailing books.

More information about the tour is available at plus1.co.nz

What they say about John Cooper Clarke:

Sir Paul McCartney: “John Cooper Clarke is one of Britain’s outstanding poets. His anarchic punk poetry has thrilled people for decades. Long may his slender frame and spiky top produce words and deeds that keep us on our toes and alive to the wonders of the world.”

Alex Turner – Arctic Monkeys: "My first encounter with Dr Clarke …I was captivated by his character and his ability to draw colourful and evocative language out of unlikely corners. That figure in the distance behind the microphone brandishing his plastic carrier bag of notebooks was, and still is, nothing short of dazzling.”

Kate Moss: "John Cooper Clarke uses words like Chuck Berry uses guitar riffs melody and anger, humour and disdain in equal measure. He's the real deal, really funny and really caustic, the velvet voice of discontent.”