2025 Gig Guide

HAPPY HOUR! Come and join Karen Clarke, Foyer Queen for a happy hour of favourites. Joined by a local band, come in for a free show and a discounted drink before the first theatre gig!

Come crate digging with us!

Shaun Kirk is an award-winning blues and soul troubadour from Melbourne, known for his electrifying performances and gritty, soulful vocals. He’s a regular at Bluesfest Byron Bay and has shared the stage with icons like Robert Plant, John Mayer, and The Teskey Brothers. Praised by Fantastic Negrito as "one of the best one-man shows he's ever seen!" Kirk has also opened for legends like Joe Bonamassa and Beth Hart, solidifying his place in contemporary music.

The Recliner Rockers bring high-energy blues and rockabilly to stages across Aotearoa and beyond. Known for their electrifying performances at Whangamata Beach Hop and hot rod festivals, they blend showmanship with top-tier musicianship, delivering fiery originals and rootsy covers. Featuring Al Lavis, Geoff Fitzpatrick, Bruce French, and Nic Hulme-Chivel.

The Carol Bean Ensemble performs songs from the mighty blues players of old - Elmore James, Memphis Minnie, and Jimmy Reed. They also feature contemporary players like Debbie Davies and Angela Strelhi from Austin Texas, and Etta James from Los Angeles California- Carol’s home town.
Band: Carol Bean- guitar vocals; Deane Hunter- lead guitar; Duncan Haynes- keyboard; Elliotte Fuimaono- bass; Andrew Richardson- drums

The Kevin Downing Guitar School Lab Band - A 17-PIECE GUITAR ORCHESTRA! Run by internationally recognised guitar education specialist Kevin Downing, the band plays a mixture of jazz, blues, funk, rock and has a reputation for backing some of the world’s greatest guitar players and singers in those genres. Most recently the band played with Carl Verheyen of Supertramp at the Manawatu Jazz and Blues Festival, 2025.

5 Fantastic acts ranging from solo to quartet, blues to looping grooves with a smidgeon of rockabilly... Say What!?

Blues Clues brings old-school blues into the modern age with passion and fire. Inspired by legends like Muddy Waters and B.B. King, they deliver raw, soulful performances featuring top Wellington musicians

3 woman led wonder acts to spend your Sunday with. Solo to 7 piece, blues all the way!

Closing the festival with a bang, a belt, and a bluesy wink.
Two Bluesy Blondes bring the curtain down on the NZ Blues, Roots & Groove Festival with a set that’s equal parts sass, soul, and serious musicianship. Expect powerhouse vocals, harmonica howls, and a band that grooves like nobody’s business. Whether you’re a die-hard blues fan or just love a good time, this is the grand finale you don’t want to miss.

Samuel Flynn Scott has released over 15 albums with the likes of The Phoenix Foundation, solo, Fly My Pretties as well as Dave Dobbyn and Mermaidens (as producer). He has toured the world with TPF, composed the soundtracks to films like Hunt For The Wilderpeople and Boy and in general done almost everything there is to be done in the world of music. He is gearing up to release his fourth solo album featuring David Kilgour, Riki Gooch, SJD and more.

Experience the Ben Wilcock Trio as they push the boundaries of modern jazz, blending past, present, and future in a thrilling live performance. With Ben Wilcock (piano) leading the way, alongside John Rae’s inventive drumming and Patrick Bleakley’s resonant bass lines, the trio delivers an immersive, ever-evolving groove. Expect music from Wilcock’s acclaimed releases—plus brand-new material soon to be unveiled.

People often wonder what it might be like to have a doppelgänger somewhere out there in the world - and what it would be like to bump into them. In 2022, in a strange twist of fate, Graeme James and Sonic Delusion, two flat cap wearing, world traveling, multi-instrumentalist live looping indie musicians realised they had somehow ended up in the same town in Taranaki.
After being mistaken for each other one too many times, the musical doppelgängers decided to embrace the inevitable and team up to form world’s first (and only) looping supergroup ’Doppellooper’.
With over 25 years of combined experience as professional musicians, they will be sharing songs and stories from the road in this one off performance. Brilliant musicianship meets improvised chaos in this hilarious and captivating show that features over 15 instruments and two loopers at the top of their game.

Karen Clarke is a fierce indie blueswoman known for her raw, groove-driven sound and powerhouse vocals. Mixing blues, RnB, and alt-country, she delivers deeply felt performances with grit and soul. Based in Taranaki, she leads the local songwriting scene and brings heartfelt stories to life with commanding presence and authenticity.