Pitchfork

You have to sit on a mighty big plane for a mighty long time to get from the U.S. to Australia and New Zealand. But this time of year, when summer is in full swing Down Under and things are mighty frosty in parts north, even our most nationalist bands periodically must fly the coop in order to regroup and flourish.

So, then, the National-- all-American lads if ever there were any-- are heading way southwards for a tour over the next few weeks. A number of these dates fall under the umbrella of the fairly amazing Sydney Fest we told you about some months ago, but one suspects the band figured they might as well justify the leg cramps of those ultra-long flights by adding a few more regional shows. On each night of the Sydney shindig, they'll be joined by Clogs, whose Bryce Dessner is also a member of the National. Boy, is he gonna regret that after doing six sets in three nights!

Once they get back to the northern hemisphere, the band have a smattering of dates over the next few months, including a one-off in Brooklyn, a stop at Langerado, and another interNational appearance at the Explosions in the Sky-curated ATP festival in May.

National:

01-15 Auckland, New Zealand – Kings Arms
01-16 Brisbane, Australia – The Zoo
01-17 Brisbane, Australia – The Zoo
01-18 Melbourne, Australia – The Corner
01-19 Melbourne, Australia – The Corner
01-21 Sydney, Australia – City Recital Hall Angel Place *
01-22 Sydney, Australia – City Recital Hall Angel Place *
01-23 Sydney, Australia – City Recital Hall Angel Place *
02-22 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Academy of Music
03-09 South Florida Everglades, Florida – Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation (Langerado)
05-16 Minehead, England – Butlin’s Holiday Centre (Explosions in the Sky ATP)

* with Clogs