Tour News - Auckland Folk Festival returns in January 2025 with a massive three day global musical celebration for all
/ Megan MossKumeu Showgrounds, Auckland
Shake off your dancing shoes! The Auckland Folk Festival is set to make a foot-stomping return, for three unbelievable days, over Auckland Anniversary weekend, January 2025!
The Festival has been delighting young and old for over 50 years, proud to be one of the longest-running in New Zealand, and the largest folk festival in the country. Bringing together exceptionally talented artists from New Zealand and around the world, expertly blending nationally and internationally renowned acts, with up-and-coming locals, and as always, pushing the boundaries of ‘folk’! Expect the unexpected, featuring music, dance, craft workshops, food trucks and concerts, held across multiple stages, at Kumeu Showgrounds. The three day music festival, running across Auckland Anniversary Weekend (January 24-27, 2025) will be hard to beat, brimming with magical moments and musical memories, and proudly back to full strength, following the wobbly years of Covid-19 and the January 2023 floods.
Emily Roughton, the Festival’s Programme & Artist Coordinator said they were excited to welcome thousands of members of the folk & music loving community back to the festival. “We’re back! We can’t wait to bring a jam-packed lineup to the festival which celebrates and brings together the folk community, and equally pushes the boundaries of folk. We’re delighted to be showcasing some amazingly talented locals, along with some really quality international acts. We have a huge kids programme planned this year, we are excited to bring together the young and young at heart, for a fun, action-packed weekend!”
The music lineup for the 2025 festival is nothing short of exceptional, from Australia’s simultaneously graceful and darkly bewitching, multi-award winning, folk pop ‘sister’ duo, Charm of Finches (AUS) to Hina. The creative mantle of Tāmaki Makaurau songwriter Amy Boroevich (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Raukawa), Hina, has garnered critical acclaim and charmed audiences around Aotearoa. 2024’s Best Folk Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards, Adam McGrath, also steps up to the mic, famed around the Motu for his much loved folk singing and yarn spinning! Also gracing our stages in 2025 are New Zealand's latest ‘darling’ duo Pony Baby (Arahi & Jazmine Mary), winning hearts & souls with their sweet harmonies, lyrics and melodies.
And thats just the beginning, the diverse lineup also ranges from toe-tapping instrumental bands Austral (AUS), Rain of Animals (SCO/AUS), Fortino Trio (AUS) and BB & Alex (USA/NZ) to Americana darlings Tess Liautaud & Jessie Shanks (US/NZ) and Tall Folk (US/NZ), to the multitalented, queen of collaborations Krissy Jackson, and latest kiwi Indie sensations, Marmalade + much more.
From manouche to indie, blues to bluegrass, this Festival has it all.
With more acts to be announced, including a massive childrens programme, The Auckland Folk Festival 2025 is set to round out the summer festival season with a bang!
Large marquees provide plenty of shade, there are plenty of campsites available and with a dedicated kids’ stage and programme, there’s family-friendly entertainment for all ages! The Festival offers camping and non-powered sites. The Festival caters to young and old, fostering intergenerational connection and encouraging its wider creative community. Expect pottery workshops, space for arts and crafts, a speaking series, food trucks with beautiful vegetarian options, something for everyone!. Come along to enjoy the happy, creative vibes, have some yummy food, try a dance workshop or give the pottery a go. Find a spot under a shady tree and listen to beautiful music.
“We want you and your family to have fun and leave feeling as though you’ve met a new, extended folk family!
Auckland Folk Festival 2025 Lineup:
Adam McGrath
Austral (AUS)
The Barleyshakes (AUS)
Basant Madhur Ensemble
BB & Alex (USA/NZ)
Charm of Finches (AUS)
Fortino Trio (AUS)
Hannah Morrell (AUS)
Hina
Krissy Jackson
Lizzie Flynn & the Runaway Trains (AUS)
Marmalade
Medena Ensemble
OrigiNZ
Pony Baby
Rain of Animals (SCO/AUS)
Rasoul Abbasi Ensemble
Sounds of the Cedar Forest
Tall Folk (USA/NZ).
Tess Liautaud & Jessie Shanks (US/NZ)
Tom Rodwell
Tickets on sale mid September. Early bird tickets close December 31st.
Be sure you don’t miss out on info & updates - visit www.aucklandfolkfestival.co.nz to sign up for news.
Auckland Anniversary weekend
Friday 24 January to Monday 27 January 2025
Kumeu Showgrounds, Auckland
Tickets and Information: http://www.aucklandfolkfestival.co.nz/
The Auckland Folk Festival is an annual folk music and dance festival that brings to Auckland a diverse selection of the best in contemporary and traditional folk music for the enjoyment of music lovers of all ages. It is New Zealand’s biggest folk festival with 3000 campers and day visitors expected over the weekend.
A wide range of food and drinks will be on site along with music and folk market stalls. In keeping with the family atmosphere, alcohol is not sold on site.
Australia & New Zealand dates confirmed for Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland in March 2025
The big dance in the bright lights of Auckland just got brighter, with the return of the annual Golden Lights Music Festival, held on the expansive outer fields of Waitakere’s Trusts Arena, on Friday 10th January 2025.
Rock fans rejoice. Multi-grammy award-nominated and gold certified band Highly Suspect are returning for one massive Arena tour of Aotearoa.
Manuka Pharm Synthony in The Domain returns in 2025, with a stellar first line-up featuring international acts Cyril and Example (UK), as well as Kiwi acts Kora, Ladi6 and Th’ Dudes - with more to be announced.
Auckland, get ready to bust out the sprinkler as Gardens Music Festival 2025 returns to the iconic Auckland Domain, on Friday, February 28. Prepare to dance your way through the lush greenery of one of the city’s most beloved spots.
Australia/New Zealand leg kicks off Feb 3, 2025. Support from Medium Build on all ANZ shows.
Pearl Jam has today announced 3 exciting opening acts for the Australia and New Zealand dates on the Dark Matter World Tour 2024.
Following the #1 ARIA Chart debut for new album ‘Sunday Sadness’, Amy Shark, one of Australia’s premier pop successes and 8 x ARIA Award winner, has announced support artists Culture Wars (USA) for the Australian shows, and NZ’s Coast Arcade for the Auckland show, with openers HUTCH and Fool Nelson (Perth only) on The Sadness Tour.
Rapper, performer, and storyteller King today announces a debut tour of Australia and New Zealand, bringing his dynamic live shows down under this November.
British dance music superstar Becky Hill has today announced her return to Australia and New Zealand next January.
Frontier Touring is thrilled to announce the return of GRAMMY®-nominated singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams, with the highly anticipated The Secret of Us Tour.
Frontier Touring is thrilled to announce the return of Bryan Adams who is bringing his So Happy It Hurts Tour to Australia and New Zealand in February 2025, joined by English singer and songwriter James Arthur.
Are you ready for the madcap chaos of Australia’s largest travelling music festival? Good Things season returns with a head-spinning line-up fit for a fever dream.
British iconic punk and new wave rockers, The Stranglers, are returning to Australia & New Zealand next March to mark their monumental 50th Anniversary!
Furious, thrilling, and wholly alive: Philadelphia punkers Mannequin Pussy leave no holds barred. Announced today, the acclaimed indie four-piece will make their way down under for the very first time to Australia and New Zealand this December on the I Got Heaven Tour.
Valhalla Touring presents Polish black metal band Batushka for one night only gig in Auckland, New Zealand, this December!
Wowsers! Behold human pirates of the southern lands, Alestorm have set their compass this way for their next expedition to the other side of the world to regale us all with their super infectious blend of modern folk and power metal.
Today, TEG Live is proud to announce that Alison Moyet, will be embarking on her first New Zealand tour in 8 years, as part of her global tour ‘KEY Live 2025’.
Blue skies, a shady tree, music floating through the air… Grab your guitar, a tasty food truck treat, settle in for some beautiful music - experience the magic that is the Auckland Folk Festival, Jan 24th - 27th, 2025!
Renowned New Zealand musician Jon Toogood today announces Last Of The Lonely Gods album release tour bringing to life his first ever solo album of the same name this October and November.
Due to phenomenal demand for tickets, The Cult are upgrading their Auckland venue and are now scheduled to perform at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Thursday 21 November.
Less Than Jake Announces Their First New Zealand Tour Since 2014! Goodvibes Promotions presents Less Than Jake at Powerstation, Auckland, on Wednesday 23rd October 2024, with support from The Bennies.
Brian McFadden (Westlife) & Keith Duffy (Boyzone) bring their musical supergroup to New Zealand in 2025.
Boyzlife, the musical supergroup formed by Brian McFadden of Westlife and Keith Duffy of Boyzone, are thrilled to announce their upcoming tour to Australia and New Zealand in 2025.
Experience an unforgettable evening of revered anthems that defined the 1990s and 2000s
'BIG HORNS’ Aotearoa’s biggest and best horn section, live remixing the biggest hits, is hitting Auckland!
Did you catch them at Big Day out 2002 or Edgefest 2004? Now 20 years later, Alien Ant Farm are back!
Internationally acclaimed superstar Travis Scott today announced he is bringing his Circus Maximus Tour to Latin America, Australia and New Zealand this fall with stadium shows in Buenos Aires, Rio De Janeiro, Mexico City, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland and more.
Not-for-profit, multi-purpose music space BIG FAN is thrilled to announce the next two Ignite programme intakes.
After a triumphant year and a historic Juno Award win, Punjabi sensation Karan Aujla is set to return to Australia and New Zealand this October, his first visit since his 2022.
Acclaimed Houston-born singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Keshi announces that he is set to embark on a headlining world tour in support of his forthcoming sophomore album, Requiem.
Frontier Touring and MG Live are delighted to announce British indie-rock musician James Marriott will make his anticipated antipodean return this December.