Music
Weekly Spread
TM Weekly Spread: shows onsale this week
ICYMI here are some of our favourite shows going on sale this week – be sure to set your alarms!
With so many shows being announced every day it’s hard to keep up. To make sure you’re up to date, we’ve put together a handy guide including all our favourite shows going on sale this week.
Khalid
Fresh from the release of his new album Free Spirit, Khalid will make his way to our shores for a special show in Auckland. Since his huge breakout with debut album American Teen back in 2017, Khalid has been taking the world by storm. We’ve got to wait until November, but the countdown will be well and truly worth it once Khalid (and his honey-smooth vocals) are here. Do we remember his 2017 shows? Booked to play at Auckland Town Hall, the show sold out so quickly it was immediately upgraded to Spark Arena. That’s again where you’ll find him this time. Khalid will perform at Spark Arena, Auckland on Thursday 21 November. Tickets are on sale now so you probably want to get in quickly.
Queen + Adam Lambert
The coming together of Queen original band members Brian May and Roger Taylor alongside American pop superstar Adam Lambert has been a monumental success. While no one can possibly come close to filling the huge shoes that Freddie Mercury left, fans around the world have been astounded by how brilliant a tribute Lambert pays to Queen’s late frontman. Lambert, a stellar musician in his own right, will once again step into the Queen songbook, and help bring their much-loved anthems to life onstage. They last toured New Zealand in early 2018, and before that in 2014. Queen and Adam Lambert will take over Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland on Friday 7 February 2020 and Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin on Monday 10 February 2020, tickets are on sale now.
Russ
American rapper Russ is set to return to New Zealand stages this July. Named in Forbes’ annual ’30 under 30’ list for 2019, it has been a steep rise for the artist. After bursting onto the scene between 2011and 2014, and releasing an impressive 11 mixtapes in that time, he then went on to drop 87 consecutive weekly singles. In 2017, his debut album There’s Really A Wolf went platinum, with each song entirely produced, mixed, mastered, engineered, written, and recorded by Russ himself. His New Zealand debut – a whopping 2.5-hour set – was a sell-out, and his recent album Zoo continues his winning streak. What we’re saying is, Russ is a self-made legend, and you don’t want to miss him live. Russ will take over Spark Arena, Auckland on Saturday 13 July. Tickets go on sale Thursday 18 April @ 11am via Ticketmaster.
SZA
American R&B star SZA has confirmed one huge New Zealand performance following her headline slot at Australia’s Splendour In The Grass this July. The genre-bending singer-songwriter blurs the lines between modern R&B and styles including jazz, alt-rock, and rap creating something that is completely fresh and completely SZA. She first touched down in New Zealand last year, playing one sold-out show in Auckland that left fans craving more – and now we’ve got it. The five-time Grammy nominee will take over Spark Arena, Auckland on Friday 26 July. Tickets go on sale Thursday 18 April @ 2pm via Ticketmaster.
Dara O’Briain
One of Ireland’s funniest comedians, Dara O’Briain is heading our way this September with his new show Voice of Reason. Best known for his work on BBC’s Mock the Week’, Ireland’s The Panel, Stargazing Live, Robot Wars and Dara O Briain’s Go 8 Bit, it has recently been announced that O’Briain will host the re-booted classic quiz show Blockbusters, with two series due to be broadcast on Comedy Central in 2019. What we’re saying is, O’Briain is a pretty busy guy and we are so stoked to have him on our stage. Dara O’Briain will bring his intelligent, fast-talking, hilarious show to The Opera House Wellington on Friday 20 September and ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre Auckland on Saturday 21 September. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
Little Simz
Following the release of her third album Grey Area, Little Simz is ready to make her way back to New Zealand. With a trail of much-lauded performances, critically-acclaimed albums, and sold-out shows in her wake, the English MC is ready to show fans exactly what the fuss is about. For the uninitiated, Little Simz’ music blends hip hop with soul, R&B, and jazz influences as the dynamic soundscape to personal and honest self-reflection. It’s going to be an intimately beautiful night when Little Simz comes to Auckland’s Tuning Fork on Wednesday 24 July. Tickets are on sale now.
Mitch James
Kiwi pop sensation Mitch James is about to take the world by storm, so this is a train you definitely want to get on now. Next month he heads to the UK, for a tour that includes an already sold-out show in London, before he returns home to play his biggest headline show to date. Since its release last year, James’ self-titled gold-certified debut album has amassed more than 80 million Spotify streams, and while 70 million of those might’ve been from us, we know we aren’t alone in this fan club. Mitch James will perform at Dunedin Town Hall on Tuesday 9 July. Tickets are on sale now.
Keep up to date on all the best live happenings across New Zealand with Ticketmaster’s weekly spread.
