UTR 2020 Roundup + Festive Season Gig Picks

So that was 2020! It feels like something of a triumph to have made it to the end of a year that started with apocalyptic orange skies (due to the Australian bush fires), and only got even more dramatic. We're thankful that our music community is still fighting fit after a topsy-turvy twelve months, which astoundingly included a moment when every single show in Aotearoa was either cancelled or postponed simultaneously. We invite you to celebrate our uniquely thriving local live scene this summer, and have put together a handy selection of festive season gig picks below for your convenience. Our editorial team are taking a much deserved break [back in the office on 11th January, send us your info here], but you can rest assured the champs handling the ticketing side of UTR will be manning the helpdesk [over here] right on through the new year — mad props to everybody working hard over summer. Huge thanks for sticking with us and to everyone for your support, catch you in 2021!

Listen To UTR's 2020 End Of Year Playlist

UTR's 2020 Favourite Music Moments

FESTIVE SEASON GIG PICKS

Auckland

Fri 18th Dec: Late To Chelsea Christmas Bash - UFO
Fri 18th Dec: 1:12 Xmas Party 2020 - Whammy Bar + Backroom
Fri 18th Dec: Infestive Festive Festivities - All Ages Show w/ Wax Chattels + More - Auckland Old Folks Ass.
Fri 18th Dec: Rock The Halls - A Not So Silent Night - Anthology Lounge
Fri 18th Dec: Grounded Sounds - Tuning Fork
Fri 18th Dec: Miloux - Ponsonby Social Club
Fri 18th Dec: Miles Calder 'Lake Geneva' Single Release Show - The Wine Cellar
Fri 18th Dec: SOJØURN - Leigh Sawmill Cafe
Sat 19th Dec: Melodownz: Auckland Live Summer In The Square
Sat 19th Dec: 95bfm, Wine Cellar And Whammy Bar Xmas Party - Whammy Bar and Wine Cellar
Sat 19th Dec: The Return Of Braingun - UFO
Sat 19th Dec: Newbop Quintet - Ponsonby Social Club
Thu 24th Dec: Bomp Stompin' Boogie - Xmas Done Got Funky! - Cupid Bar
Wed 30th Dec: The Chills December Tour w/ Kita - Leigh Sawmill Cafe
Thu 31st Dec: Klang: Process /// NYE /// Whammy (Techno)
Thu 31st Dec: The Beach Ball w/ Marlin's Dreaming, Soaked Oats, Frank Booker - Galatos
Thu 7th Jan: Sandtrap Six Feet Down Release - Leigh Sawmill Cafe
Thu 7th Jan: Michael Morris and The Slow Loris - Whammy Bar
Sat 9th Jan: Puppeteer, Deathnir, Indian Jones, Coffin Club - The Thirsty

Waihi

Tues 29th Dec: The Beach Ball w/ Daffodils, Marlin's Dreaming, Soaked Oats - Waihi Beach Hotel

Sun 20th Dec: Grant Haua: Christmas Livestream (secret location)
Thu 31st Dec: The Hell Yea's Eve Party w/ X-Ray Fiends, The Dicks, Blame-Thrower, Abysm, Rat Dickz - The Historic Village
Thu 31st Dec: Kaleidoscope NYE 2020 w/ Mini Simmons, Strangely Arousing, The Leers, Joes Van - Our Place

Hamilton

Weds 13th Jan: FRED - Nivara Lounge

Raglan

Sun 3rd Jan: The Beach Ball w/ Marlin's Dreaming, Soaked Oats, Frank Booker - The Yot Club
Thu 7th Jan: Arthur Ahbez - The Yot Club

Gisborne

Sat 19th Dec: Hail To The Thieves - Smash Palace
Sun 27th Dec: Threat.Meet.Protocol, The Murder Chord, Blame Thrower, Dead Model, Hagseed, No Brainers, Unruly, The Rabbits - Smash Palace
Sat 10th Jan: Arthur Ahbez - Smash Palace

Oakura

Fri 8th Jan: Arthur Ahbez: Oakura Boardriders Club

Hawkes Bay

Sat 26th Dec: Cape Estate - Boxing Day Festival 2020
Fri 28th Dec: Earth Tongue - Paisley Stage
Sat 9th Jan: FRED - The Cabana

Palmerston North

Fri 18th Dec: Found Family Festivities w/ Persimmon, Malakai, Jake Hardout, Feilding's Best Dancers - The Stomach
Sat 19th Dec: December's Definitely Not A Xmas Gig - Snails

Wellington

Fri 18th Dec: Dark Ichor X Suggested Serving Size X Snowqueen - Aro Valley Community Hall
Fri 18th Dec: Aaron Tokona Tribute Buzz - San Fran
Fri 18th Dec: Lake South Corporation™ Christmas Party - 1st Kelburn 1909 Scout Hall
Fri 18th Dec: Māoriland Presents Estēre - Maoriland Hub, Otaki
Sat 19th Dec: Ulcerate & Vassafor - San Fran
Thu 31st Dec: Wind Up 2020 w/ The Masked Empress, This Silent Divide, Lung, Solo Ono, Vorsen, Tidal Rave - St Peter's Hall (Paekakariki)
Fri 8th Jan: FRED - San Fran
Thu 14th Jan: Hadees Drudge, State Of Entropy, Sidewinder - Valhalla

Motueka

Sun 20th Dec: O & The Mo - Riwaka Hotel

Nelson

Fri 18th Dec: O & The Mo - The Boathouse

Takaka

Sat 19th Dec: O & The Mo - The Roots Bar

Christchurch

Fri 18th Dec: 0three Events Presents: Uglyside Live - Arcadia
Fri 18th Dec: LUNG - Space Academy
Fri 18th Dec: Jed Parsons And His Friends - 2020, You're Fired! - Cassels Blue Smoke
Wed 23rd Dec: French For Rabbits - Grater Goods
Wed 23rd Dec: Space Academy Xmas Party: Transistors, Joe Sampson, Nervous Jerk, Model Home
Thu 24th Dec: James Reid and The Survivors - A Rolling Stone
Wed 30th Dec: New Years Eve Eve w/ Axedmen, Sundae Painters, Violet French & The Horrible + DJ Dr Bruce Russell - The Loons, Lyttelton
Thu 31st Dec: Bailey Watson's Beats and Bad Decisions EP Release Party - Arcadia
Thu 31st Dec: The Rap Up w/ Camo MC - Lu Lu's Bar & Eatery
Sat 9th Jan: PIPSY - Wunderbar, Lyttelton
Thu 14th Jan: Michael Morris And The Slow Loris - darkroom

Wanaka

Sat 19th Dec: Xmas Rocks! Featuring Tehight
Sun 3rd Jan: Jordan Luck Band - Luggate Hotel

Queenstown

Sun 27th Dec: Julien Temple Band - Sherwood
Tue 29th Dec: Michael Morris and The Slow Loris - Loco Cantina

Cromwell

Sat 2nd Jan: Jordan Luck Band - The Victoria Arms Hotel

Te Anau

Thu 31st Dec: Julian Temple Band New Year's Eve Bash - Redcliff Cafe

Dunedin

Sat 19th Dec: LUNG - The Crown Hotel
Sat 19th Dec: Pieces of Molly - Spirit Man Tour - Dive
Thu 7th Jan: Paul Ubana Jones Plays: Uniquely Ubana - Carey's Bay Historic Hotel
Fri 8th Jan - PIPSY - Dive
Sat 9th Jan - Julian Temple Band - ZanziBar

Invercargill

Thu 7th Jan: PIPSY, The Dense, Sam Cullen, Polarised - Southland Musicians Club

Head over to our Gig Guide for more listings!!!