Having wrapped three sold-out nights at New York’s City Winery performing solo, Nick Lowe has his return ticket to Gotham booked, this time with his rock & roll shoes on.
Lowe and Los Straitjackets will perform 8/5 as part of the Lincoln Center Outdoors series of free shows that starts 7/26 with Rickie Lee Jones performing her album Pirates in full as part of part of NPR Music’s Turning The Tables Live and the Americana Fest on 8/12-13.
The Lowe appearance will provide a rare opportunity to compare and contrast an artist just months between appearances. At his relaxed City Winery performance, accompanied by just his acoustic guitar, Lowe gently rocked his best-known songs—“I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock ‘n’ Roll),” “Cruel to Be Kind” and, of course, “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding”—as well his more recent material that he sweetly croons with casual ease—the elegant “Stoplight Roses” and “Shelley My Love.”
By the time he returns to New York—and potentially affecting his repertoire choices— Yep Roc will have Lowe’s catalog back in print, releasing digitally on 7/14 Nick the Knife, The Abominable Showman, Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit, The Rose of England, Pinker and Prouder Than Previous and Party of One. Nick the Knife and The Abominable Showman will be reissued on LP/CD on that date as well; Cowboy Outfit and Rose of England follow on 8/25 with Pinker and Prouder and Party of One coming out 10/20.
During his City Winery run, Lowe closed with Elvis Costello’s “Allison,” a song he produced 40 years ago and one that Costello may well perform when he returns to Central Park’s Summerstage on Thursday.
Highlights of this year’s free shows at Summerstage include Margaret Glaspy in Brooklyn on 6/22, a Fela tribute on 7/16 in Central Park and The Budos Band on Staten Island on 7/22.
At Lincoln Center, the Pirates performance will also feature performances by Ronnie Spector, Nona Hendryx, Alynda Segarra, TORRES, Lizzo, and Gaby Moreno. Also on the schedule are Rumer and Dionne Warwick on 7/29, Angelique Kidjo’s interpretation of Talking Heads’ Remain in Light on 8/2 and Spanish Harlem Orchestra on 8/9.
