Tour News - Mel Parsons announces seven-date NZ CASTLE HILL album release tour - 7th May 2026

News

7 May

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 7th – Pre-save.)

Plus1 proudly presents Mel Parsons live around Aotearoa in some of our country’s 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:

Thursday May 7th (today) - 8am - Pre-sale sign-up opens at Plus1.co.nz
Tuesday May 12th - 9am - 48-hour presale begins
Thursday May 14th - 9am - General sale opens.

All tour and ticket info is at Plus1.co.nz and MelParsons.com

Taking its namesake from the remote mountain town in the Southern Alps where it was recorded, CASTLE HILL was produced by Josh Logan and recorded live with Mel’s longtime band members Aaron Stewart (bass) and Jed Parsons (drums); joined by Ben King (Goldenhorse, Grand Rapids) on guitars. Parsons says of the sessions: “it was a full immersion recording experience over a stolen summer holiday”.

Following the release of SABOTAGE in 2024, multi-award winning Parsons toured the country with Crowded House, performed in Canada and Australia, and has continued her stellar run including a finalist nod for Best Folk Artist at the 2026 AMA’s.

Singles already released from the record include the alternative radio chart toppers, ‘Post High Slide’, ‘Brick By Brick’, ‘Be Here Now’, ‘Don’t Leave The Light On’, ‘Caravan’, as well as the most recent single, ‘Grain by Grain’.

Expect soaring harmonies, a dynamic live show, and a feel-good vibe throughout as Mel Parsons performs live this August and September. Come and celebrate one of Aotearoa’s finest live artists!

Praise for Mel Parsons:
“A performance that travels the map of the human heart” - 13th Floor

"Sabotage is pure triumph" - Rolling Stone Australia

“This album [SABOTAGE] really locates the mournful quality in Mel Parsons’ voice, and highlights what a remarkable instrument it is; oceans of feeling sounded out with apparently little effort” - Tony Stamp, RNZ

“Parsons and her band are world class - immaculate renditions of immaculate songs” - muzic.net

"Hypnotic songs and clever arrangements" - Graham Reid, Elsewhere

"A seasoned songwriter in her element" – UTR

Plus1 presents: Mel Parsons CASTLE HILL album release tour 2026

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

* presented by 95bFM
Funded through NZ On Air and supported by the NZ Music Commission

Tickets at plus1.co.nz /melparsons.com