The National Returning To New Zealand For Two Headline Shows

Ohio indie rock icons The National are returning to Aotearoa in April 2020 to play a very special pair of intimate headline events at Auckland's ASB Theatre. The Grammy Award-winning group fronted by Matt Berninger are currently riding a wave of global acclaim for their newly launched eighth studio album I Am Easy To Find, featuring a cavalcade of special guests (including Sharon Van Etten) and released with a companion short film of the same name, directed by Mike Mills and starring Alicia Vikander. Last here in early 2018 for a summer Auckland performance, The National are bringing to NZ a full production with which to deliver their ambitious sonic vision over two unmissable evenings (at a relatively cosy and intimate venue considering their massive fan base) – mark these details in your diary...

UPDATE 17/03/20: The National and Phoebe Bridgers' Aotearoa shows have been rescheduled until December 2020...

The National
w/ special guest Phoebe Bridgers
Monday 7th December and Tuesday 8th December - Auckland, Civic Theatre, Auckland
Ticket holders will hear from Ticketmaster with updates and information

Watch the video for 'Light Years', from The National's new album I Am Easy To Find...

Experience the 24 minute companion short film to I Am Easy To Find, directed by Mike Mills...

Press release:

Solid Entertainment are thrilled to announce two once in a life time performances by a band at the height of their powers who have elected to play in the kind of intimate theatre venues they have long since outgrown.

THE NATIONAL will play two shows at Auckland’s ASB Theatre, Aotea Square, a world-class all-seated venue on Friday the 3rd and Saturday the 4th of April 2020. The National are bringing a full production for what is a mouth-watering sonic proposition of being able to see and hear a touchstone band in a perfect environment.

Here are two chances that may never be repeated to see this magnificent band up close in an intimate theatre setting that will surely burn long into the memory. Every seat is a great seat, and now at eight albums deep The National are in an elite class amongst the very best bands of the world.

The National have established themselves as mainstays of arenas and festivals with sold-out performances and headlining slots around the world. The band have always included New Zealand in their touring schedule and have a deep affinity with the country and their fans here. The National’s last shows in NZ were headlining Spark Arena (2014), headlining Auckland City Limits Festival (2017) and selling out Villa Maria Estate Winery (February 2018).

The National’s 2017 album Sleep Well Beast won them a Grammy® Award for Best Alternative Album and scored several #1’s. Brand new album I Am Easy To Find released May 17 on 4AD alongside a companion short film (directed by Mike Mills and starring Alicia Vikander) is receiving career best reviews as the sound of a band surpassing their own very lofty heights.

“If you've ever said, even just as a joke, “they don't write albums like that anymore” then The National just did. And then some." (elsewhere.co.nz)

These kinds of very special shows do not come around very often.

These kinds of shows are where magic happens.