The Bats Announce Nationwide Tour Celebrating 'Corner Coming Up'

Aotearoa national treasures The Bats came together on New Year's Eve in 1982 and have been crafting musical gems together ever since — heroically maintaining the same original lineup of Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward, Paul Kean and Malcolm Grant for more than four decades! I know of some groups who couldn't stick it out for three shows. Cherished role models for our DIY songwriting community, the Ōtautahi Christchurch quartet unveiled their unmistakably excellent new album Corner Coming Up in October via Flying Nun Records, and they've just announced a nationwide tour in early 2026, celebrating their eleventh studio long player.

Tunes from Corner Coming Up (as well as The Bats offshoot Minisnap) have recently received significant airplay on the globally influential NTS Radio, testament to their enduring sonic power. Knockouts on stage as well (anyone who caught them at last week's The Others Way festival will agree), come along and see what all the fuss is about as summer turns to autumn in Aotearoa NZ — brought to you by Banished Music...

The Bats New Zealand Tour
Celebrating Corner Coming Up

Friday 20th February - Theatre Royal, Nelson
Saturday 21st February - ASB Theatre Marlborough, Blenheim
Friday 6th March - Last Place, Hamilton
Saturday 7th March - Hollywood Avondale, Auckland (part of Strange Universe)
Thursday 12th March - Paisley Stage, Napier
Friday 13th March - St Peters, Paekākāriki
Saturday 14th March - Meow, Wellington
Friday 20th March - Dropkicks, Dunedin
Saturday 21st March - The Loons, Lyttelton

Tickets on sale now from Banished Music

Get on your bike with The Bats in the video for 'Loline' ("it's almost like a Raleigh Twenty"), directed by Martin Sagadin (who has a new solo album out today)...

Press release:

Fresh from a triumphant, room-rammed set at The Other’s Way festival, Aotearoa indie legends The Bats are heading out on the road in 2026 to finally deliver the live accompaniment to their much-loved 2025 album Corner Coming Up. Recorded with Tex Houston at Chicks Studio in Port Chalmers, their 11th album Corner Coming Up charted at #1 on the IMNZ chart & #2 on the Aotearoa Music Charts and shows The Bats at their shimmering, melodic best; full of bright guitar lines, warm harmonies, and the band’s unmistakable Bats-ey sweet mystique.

A beloved part of the Flying Nun story, the band have maintained the same lineup since Robert, Kaye and Paul shoplifted Malcolm from The Bilders who played their first gig on New Year’s Eve 1982 in Dunedin.

So behold, nine shows across February and March in The Bats most extensive NZ tour in over 20 years, sharing songs from the record alongside treasured picks from their four-decades-deep knockout catalogue.

Adding to the intrigue, the Auckland headline date at Hollywood Avondale is part of Banished Music & Strange News newly minted Strange Universe show series.