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Hugh Laurie announces second album and 2013 UK tour

Posted: 11 years ago
The likeable singer returns with "Didn't It Rain?" and a clutch of summer shows, tickets on sale [22/3/2013]

After selling out dozens of shows last year, the unlikely music-star, who is Hugh Laurie, has been busy continuing with his blues and roots odyssey with the announcement of a second album.

Perhaps most familiar as a comedy performer and writer of considerable repute, Laurie's foray into music shouldn't have been much of a surprise, given his background. His comedy career with Stephen Fry was interspersed with witty moments behind a piano or in front of a mic and, in the bittersweet film-drama Peter's Friends, he was obviously first to grab the piano stool in rehearsals.

Thus in 2011, no doubt like a kid in a sweet-shop, Laurie found himself an unlikely benefactor of a recording contract with Warner Brothers after finishing his successful acting bout in House. His first album "Let Them Talk" featured luminaries such as Dr John, Irma Thomas, Alain Toussaint and Tom Jones and shot to #2, ending up as the biggest-selling blues and roots album of 2011 with sales just shy of 200k.

Clearly Laurie has been keeping an eye on the great British weather of late - his second album is entitled "Didn't It Rain" and continues the man's fascination with traditional blues and contemporary Americana. To prove how serious he is, there is to be an accompanying tour in the summer.

Stops include Bristol on 13th June, followed by Hammersmith, Oxford and several more until Gateshead on the 23rd. Tickets on sale now, priced from £32.50 upwards. Expect another sell-out.

Paul Pledger