Pere Ubu create their own version of Canterbury Tales
Pere Ubu and special guests to perform their unique blend of the avant garage at Gulbenkian
In a special, one-off gig for Gulbenkian Arts Centre, Pere Ubu and special guests perform their own unique blend of the avant garage in an extended programme.
On Friday 11 February 2022, the influential and highly respected Pere Ubu will present an exclusive evening of wall-to-wall music and poems with their own version of ‘Canterbury Tales’.
Their visionary front man, David Thomas, says: “Canterbury to California, Chaucer to Kerouac. The Road beckons.” He adds the advice, “Hang a left.”
Pere Ubu’s latest box set, ‘Nuke The Whales,’ (Fire Records) is due to be released in the Spring 2022. Their set will include songs from that release, including ‘Carnival Of Souls,’ (as used in Netflix hit ‘American Horror Story’), ‘Why I LUV Women,’ ‘Lady From Shanghai’ and the rock opera, ‘Long Live Pere Ubu’.
Bob Holman, founder and world-renowned owner of the Bowery Poetry Club in NYC, will introduce and participate in the evening. David Thomas will wear both caps - both as lead singer of Pere Ubu and as lead singer of David Thomas and the two pale boys. The acclaimed Rats On Rafts will be flying in from The Netherlands to perform their exclusive live cover of Pere Ubu’s ‘Visions Of The Moon’, followed by songs from their latest album.
Pere Ubu are David Thomas (vocals), Keith Moliné (guitar and bass), Gagarin (synth), Alex Ward (clarinet and guitar) and the inimitable Mr Chris Cutler on drums and percussion. Two pale boys will be David Thomas, Keith Moliné, Gagarin and Andy Diagram (James) in a long anticipated return to their very unique songs and improvisations.
“We plan to come and go with special guest performers, and probably some chaos thrown in for good measure”, continues David Thomas. “David Sefton has curated some of our previous shows including two Disastodromes, so we only have to concentrate on the creativity as he is the best at what he does, as far as we are concerned. All we know is that it will never happen again and we won’t stop until we’re satisfied it’s over. Buckle up.”
Gulbenkian’s director of culture and creative projects,David Sefton, added: “I’m delighted to be rekindling an over 20-year working relationship with the legendary Pere Ubu. The Disastodromes in London and Los Angeles are amongst my favourite original events – and Canterbury Tales promises to be as wild and brilliant as they were”.
