Spotlight: Mel Parsons 'Castle Hill' Album Release Tour

Lyttelton songwriting star Mel Parsons has been drip-feeding fans a resplendent run of singles since the release of her chart-hitting 2024 album Sabotage, a folk / country breadcrumb trail leading towards her forthcoming studio album Castle Hill. Recent tour support for local titans Crowded House, recipient of Tūī awards for both Best Folk Artist (in 2020) and Best Country Music Song (in 2016, for 'Alberta Sun'), and now again Best Folk Artist finalist for this month's Aotearoa Music Awards , Parsons will be stepping back into the spotlight for her newly announced nationwide release tour, performing in theatres throughout the motu from late August onwards.

Laid down "over a stolen summer holiday" in the Canterbury alpine village from which it gets its name, Castle Hill was recorded live with producer Josh Logan and longtime bandmates Aaron Stewart and Jed Parsons plus Ben King (Goldenhorse, Grand Rapids) on guitars. Bundling all six singles revealed so far — including her languorous newest ballad 'Grain by Grain' — with four more yet to be unveiled tunes, Castle Hill will be out in the world on 7th August. Plenty of time to learn all the words and sing along when Parsons hits a stage near you. Experience an advance taste with the video below for 'Grain by Grain', filmed by Adam Hogan (LORE Films) at Loons in Lyttelton...

"Loosely, ‘Grain By Grain’ is an ocean metaphor — the beach being washed and worn away only to be built back up again; but in a different way, by different tides, on different days. The song embodies a sense of calm — an acceptance of how things are the present moment."

Mel Parsons
CASTLE HILL ALBUM TOUR 2026

Thursday 27th August - Theatre Royal, Nelson
Friday 28th August - Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
Saturday 29th August - Glenroy Auditorium, Dunedin
Thursday 3rd September - Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton
Friday 4th September - Rangatira Q Theatre, Auckland
Saturday 5th September - Opera House, Wellington
Sunday 6th September - Globe Theatre, Palmerston North

Sign-up for pre-sale at Plus1.co.nz for early access to best seats
48-hour presale tickets available now
General sale opens 9am, Thursday 14th May

'Castle Hill' is out in full on Friday 7th August, pre-save HERE.

Singer-songwriting luminary, Mel Parsons, has announced a seven-date national theatre tour with her band in August and September 2026, celebrating her much-anticipated new album, CASTLE HILL (released on August 7 – Pre-save.)

Plus1 proudly presents Mel Parsons live around Aotearoa in some of our countries most beautiful theatres. The tour reaches Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington and Palmerston North.

Audiences are encouraged to act fast and sign up early for the CASTLE HILL tour presale to secure best seats.