Spring has sprung, and there are no promises - Downriver is rolling down the Tahunanui hills to a town hall near you!
With the release of their debut album looming, the six-piece folk-rock troupe is hitting the road. From Blenheim to Christchurch, Greymouth and Takaka, no stone shall be left to rock alone.
Prepare yourself for a barn-burning, harp-bleating, flannel-fraying evening.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Pragmatic poetry takes centre stage while the rustic twang of an acoustic guitar drives the band. Heroic leads and dancing keys weave well-worn melodies as drums and bass groove with elastic abandon, sweeping feet from their seats.
There’s a feeling in the air: a sigh of relief, a drink shared in communion, and a bittersweet happiness - We warmly invite you to roll up and rock Downriver with us.
MORE ABOUT DOWNRIVER
Downriver are a six-piece folk-rock band from Whakatu, Aotearoa. Their sound veers between the heartfelt homeland balladry of ’70s singer-songwriters and the existential melancholy of the ’90s.
Formed in 2024, Downriver have been steadily building their fanbase with a grassroots approach, performing ramshackle shows throughout the Tasman and Wellington regions.
With their debut album set for release in November, they’re about to embark on a tour of the southern skies.
SUPPORT FROM OBAN & BETTER LATE NEVER
OBAN:
Oban writes narrative songs for the guitar, where spanish knights are found lost in Timaru, and disgruntled cyclists plan drunken revolution. He draws from various folk traditions, from down the road to India, and practices the songs through long afternoons until the words, chords, and melodies are free to change with every performance.
BETTER LATE NEVER:
Better Late Never is an indie-rock band based in Blenheim.
The band was formed to bring new life to a catalogue of previously unreleased 90s-influenced material. Their music draws inspiration from defining 1990s artists, including Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Alanis Morissette, The Breeders, The Cranberries, Fiona Apple, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Band Members
Megan Rosene: Vocals & Keys
Ellie McCall: Vocals & Guitar
Shelley Durkin Zintl: Vocals & Guitar
Mark Smith: Guitar
Peter Dowling: Guitar
Felipe Mesquita: Bass
Reece MacDonald: Drums
Releases & Recording: The band debuted with their single "Fooled Again" in November 2025 and is currently preparing a full-length album scheduled for release over the 2026/2027 summer. They record locally in Blenheim at The Forge Audio with audio engineer Hemi Jones and in Wellington with Toby Lloyd and Tiny Triumph Recordings.
