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Thomas Dolby going on tour with a 'Time Capsule' (dates)

Thomas Dolby at 92YTribeca in October (via)
Thomas Dolby

Electro-pop wizard Thomas Dolby, who released A Map of the Floating City, his first new album in two decades, last year, will be touring North America in support of it, kicking off with a SXSW show on March 16, and ending about a month later in LA. The tour is being dubbed the “Time Capsule Tour,” and if you’re wondering why, this press release should clear it up…

The Time Capsule is a chrome- and brass-plated road trailer that seats three. With handcrafted leather and wood fittings, and complex electrical wiring that could have been designed by Nikola Tesla, it resembles a Jules Verne/HG Wells-inspired time-travel machine. Inside is a high-tech video recording suite that allows a music fan or guest artist to upload a personal video message to the Future. The Time Capsule will be parked in the street outside each venue on Dolby’s month-long North American tour, and in front of select local radio and TV stations. It will capture hundreds of 30-second clips over the course of the tour, assembling them into an online video montage.

Fans will be able to walk up and step into the Time Capsule to make their own fully produced and effected digital 30-second video clip. The clips will then be automatically uploaded and viewable on a brand-new YouTube channel along with the individual user’s own Facebook and Twitter pages. The most viewed clips will win prizes. Dolby’s label Lost Toy People Records is in discussion with several potential sponsors for the project.

“If you had 30 seconds to explain to an alien visitor what went wrong with our civilization, what would you say?” said Thomas Dolby. “Our species may not be around on this planet much longer, so you might as well leave a welcome message for the next guys!”

A picture of the time capsule is below. The tour hits NYC on March 29 at Canal Room and includes special guests Aaron Jonah Lewis and Ben Belcher. Tickets are on sale now. All tour dates, the time capsule pic, and a BBC Breakfast special from November about the new album, below…


Thomas Dolby on BBC Breakfast 11/3/11

Thomas Dolby

Thomas Dolby — 2012 Tour Dates
03/16 Austin, TX South by Southwest
03/17 New Orleans, LA Tipitinas
03/18 Orlando, FL Social
03/19 Birmingham, AL Workplay (Seated)
03/20 Atlanta, GA The Loft
03/21 Greenville, SC Handlebar
03/23 Annapolis, MD Ram’s Head
03/24- Philadelphia, PA World Café
03/25 Alexandria, VA Birchmere
03/28 Sellersville, PA Sellersville Theater
03/29 New York, NY Canal Room
03/30 Northhampton, MA Iron Horse
03/31 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
04/01 Montreal, QC L’Astral
04/02 Toronto, ON Mod Club
04/04 Detroit, MI Royal Oak
04/05 Chicago, IL Park West
04/06 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
04/10 Vancouver, BC Rio Theatre
04/11 Seattle, WA Showbox at the Market
04/13 San Francisco, CA Red Devil Lounge
04/14 Sacramento, CA Harlows
04/16 San Diego, CA Anthology
04/17 Los Angeles, CA Largo

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