Too Many Chiefs

Too Many Chiefs are four of New Zealand’s busiest singer/songwriters: Wayne Mason, Rob Joass, Andrew London, and Charlotte Yates. All tour their own respective shows but occasionally collaborate in sharing songs and stories from the road in this highly entertaining line-up. Their individual influences and performing styles range from blues and jazz to country and folk laced with plenty of banter, personal reflection & wit.

Founder member of Hot Club Sandwich and The Cattlestops, now playing and recording under his own name, Andrew London’s reputation stands on his satirical and comedic songs which lampoon many of New Zealand’s obsessions, foibles and taboos. Songs like Middle-Aged Man in Lycra, Country’s Buggered and I Hugged My Mate have elicited chuckles from audiences all over Australasia and have contributed to a Correspondence School English Syllabus, several feature films, and Radio National’s ‘Greatest Song Ever Written’.

Rob Joass is well known throughout New Zealand through his work with Hobnail, The Shot Band, and The Hard Core Troubadours. He writes & tours incessantly, teaches guitar and produces albums for other artists. His songs have been covered both in NZ and abroad, and he is a three-time finalist at the NZ Music Awards. Rob is in the final stages of mixing his new solo album, due for release later this year.

Patriarch of Too Many Chiefs Wayne Mason has been instrumental in the formation and success of some of the most revered names in Kiwi music history. Rocking Horse, the Fourmyula and the Warratahs all owe their inception to Wayne, who shows no signs of lowering the standard he set back in 1969 when he penned the song ‘Nature’, named by APRA in 2004 as ‘Best Kiwi Song of the Century’. Wayne released his latest album, Waiting For You at the end of 2023. He is a member of the NZ Order of Merit.

Newest ‘Chief’ is singer/songwriter Charlotte Yates, an independent recording artist with seven solo albums plus extensive collaborative and compilation work. Her first single Red Letter was an APRA Silver Scroll finalist. Charlotte directed and produced Baxter, a compilation album of James K Baxter's poetry set to music by twelve NZ recording artists, and has since completed similar projects honouring Hone Tuwhare, Witi Ihimaera and Katherine Mansfield.

The quartet’s songwriting repertoire is diverse and delivered with skill, enthusiasm and respect plus a healthy dose of spontaneous mickey-taking.

‘Mates on the road rolling out top quality songwriting and musicianship with lashings of irony and humour’

Vogelmorn Upstairs is not a wheelchair accessible building. There is an accessible
bathroom in the space. This is an all ages venue but those under the age of 16 must be
accompanied by a designated adult after 8pm. The Vogelmorn Precinct is a community
space located in a residential area. With that in mind, the team ask that you be kind to
others and that when you leave the gig, you do so quietly to avoid disturbing our
neighbours.