Courtney Barnett was among the first to recognize her talent, while her distinctive musical world has drawn comparisons to artists such as David Byrne and Laurie Anderson.
Although Aldous Harding grew up as the child of musician parents, for a long time she did not intend to follow them into the profession. Yet her musical ambitions eventually caught up with her, taking shape in a remarkably sensitive and compelling singer-songwriter. On June 25, audiences in Budapest will finally have the chance to immerse themselves in her delicate songs as Aldous Harding performs her very first concert in Budapest, at Dürer Kert.
New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Hannah Harding, known by her stage name Aldous Harding, first came to wider attention with her 2015 self-titled debut album. The record earned critical acclaim for its gothic indie folk sound and raw emotional intensity, drawing comparisons to artists such as PJ Harvey and Kate Bush. Her subsequent albums – Party (2017), Designer (2019), and Warm Chris (2022) - marked a shift toward a more abstract, off-kilter indie pop direction, evoking names like David Byrne and Laurie Anderson. Harding grew up in the town of Lyttelton near Christchurch, New Zealand, to musician parents.
She was just 13 years old when she first appeared on a recording, singing on her mother Lorina Harding’s album Clean Break. Despite this early experience, she initially had no desire to pursue a career in music, believing it to be an uncertain path. A few years later, however, she gave up her ambitions of becoming a veterinarian after she began writing songs and singing with a close friend and fellow musician. Music, it turned out, was inescapable. By 2008, she was performing backing vocals for the traveling string band The Eastern, and her early breakthrough came when Courtney Barnett spotted her busking and immediately invited her to open for her show later that same evening.
In 2012, Harding changed her first name to Aldous and asked John Parish and Ben Edwards to co-produce what would become her debut album. The self-titled release received widespread critical praise, followed by extensive touring. For her second album, she signed with the British independent label 4AD and once again collaborated with John Parish (PJ Harvey, Tracy Chapman). Party was released in 2017 and was nominated for Album of the Year in New Zealand. After completing a 100-date tour, Harding returned to the studio with Parish to record her third album, Designer, released in 2019. This was followed by Warm Chris in 2022, featuring contributions from John Parish, Seb Rochford, Gavin Fitzjohn, Colin Killalea, Hopey Parish, and Jason Williamson (Sleaford Mods).
Although Aldous Harding’s gentle yet daring, story-driven songs have inspired many listeners worldwide, Hungarian audiences have never had the chance to see her live-until now. On June 25, she will perform in Budapest for the very first time at Dürer Kert.
Tickets are available via www.livenation.hu.
- Main Hall
- June 25, 2026
