An alternative cult hero is heading to Strange Brew for a special joint headline show

An alternative cult hero is heading to Strange Brew for a special joint headline show

Posted on: 18 Aug 2023

Best known for his previous bands Felt and Denim, Lawrence’s Mozart Estate and Half Japanese will be joining forces next month for an epic night of lo-fi rock.

 

Mozart Estate and Half Japanese will play Bristol’s Strange Brew on Friday 22 September 2023.

 

Previously known as Go-Kart Mozart, Mozart Estate are the latest vehicle for eccentric, mysterious artist Lawrence to prove why he is one of pop’s great unsung heroes. The outfit will be joined by veteran Maryland art punks, Half Japanese – hurry this is a rare chance to see two of lo-fi greats in one night!

 

BUY TICKETS HERE

 

 

A vital pop experimenter for decades now, Lawrence (real name Lawrence Hayward) rose to prominence as the lyricist and co-songwriter in 80s jangle pop, Television inspired outfit, Felt. The band broke up in 1989 and the Birmingham native went on to form 70s revivalists Denim, blending glam rock with Lawrence’s wry, satirical lyrics.

 

Lawrence’s next group, the brilliantly titled Go-Kart Mozart, saw the musician shapeshift once more with the project’s output, both musically and visually, focusing on a bubblegum, novelty brand of pop – a vibrant and hilarious contrast to the frontman’s gritty lyrical content.

 

The project embraces the innate silliness of its genre with cheap sounding production and sickeningly catchy melodies. Go-Kart Mozart released 4 albums, including 2012’s On the Hot Dog Streets (the artist’s most acclaimed post-Felt record) which accompanied the release of ‘Lawrence of Belgravia’ which documented the album’s recording process.

 

Go-Kart Mozart has since been renamed Mozart Estate and, earlier this year, the band released Pop-Up! Ker-Ching! And The Possibilities Of Modern Shopping, a classic Lawrence record that transports the listener back to the 70s with silliness and showtunes a-plenty.

 

The Strange Brew show will see Mozart Estate sharing a stage with alternative lo fi legends Half Japanese. Formed in Maryland in 1974 by brothers Jad and David Fair, the project was inspired by the likes of Jackson Pollock, taking on the form of an art project more than a typical band.

Mozart Estate and Half Japanese will play Bristol’s Strange Brew on Friday 22 September 2023 in a show that is sure to sell out due to the incredible legacy of both these groups. Tickets for the show are available now and can be purchased HERE.

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Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.