Concert Review: L.A.B - Auckland - 22nd January 2022
Presented By Loop Media & Spark
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL L.A.B GALLERY BY DAVID WATSON
Review By: Daryl Habraken (Aka The Mole)
Artist: L.A.B, (Supported by; Sir Dave Dobbyn, Ladi6, The Black Seeds, Katchafire, JessB, RIIKI)
Venue/City: Outer Fields, Western Springs, Auckland, NZL
Date of Event: Saturday 22nnd January 2022 Saturday 22nnd January 2022
The Mole headed down to Western Springs in Auckland to check out L.A.B live in concert.
It was a hot January afternoon in Auckland’s Western Springs (Outerfields)
With thousands of mellowed out reggae, dub, and Yacht rock fans out in force, braving the sun and dust to absorb some of New Zealand’s finest new and used talent.
With Omicron literally moments away, this was probably going to be the last opportunity many of us had to get some live music in before the end of summer. What better way than to take in one of New Zealand’s premier bands L.A.B.
The support bands were an eclectic mix of past and present greats including ladi6, Katchafire, JessB, RIIKI, The Black Seeds and the immortal Dave Dobbyn. Something for everyone!
The event itself, while not a sell-out, was still heaving. Punters from all walks of life were in attendance, shades of South Auckland, licks of the Waitakere ‘s, the North Shore ‘s most entitled, and Remuera’s most devoted were all in force in a diverse Symphony of the Auckland suburban culture.
I was impressed by how well the event was organised, the queues while present were not ridiculous. The lavatory lines were almost nowhere to be seen and there were enough food trucks and vendors to make sure all those with the most ravenous of munchies didn’t go without.
The main event did not disappoint L.A.B really let their presence known with a fantastic visual experience as well as the audio mastery we have come to expect. It’s easy to see how these chaps have risen to the top of the live music scene here in New Zealand and abroad.
If there was to be one final musical hurrah before it’s all stripped away for a few more weeks, it could’ve been a lot worse than to have been at Western Springs on 22 January 2022.

Photos By: Andrew Caldwell
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Venue/City: Te Awanga Community Hall, Napier, New Zealand
Date of Event: Friday 28th February 2025
Photos By: Ginny Cocks
Artist/Band: A Day to Remember Supported by Hatebreed
Venue/City: Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Event: Tuesday 25th February 2025
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Venue/City: Paisley Stage, Napier, New Zealand
Date of Event: Saturday 22nd February 2025
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Venue/City: Big Fan, Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Event: Saturday 22nd February 2025
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Date of Event: Saturday 8th February 2025
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Venue/City: Black Barn, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Date of Event: Friday 31st January 2025
Photos By: Ginny C Photographer
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Venue/City: Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Event: Thursday 30th January 2025
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Venue/City: Te Awanga Hall, Te Awing, Napier, New Zealand
Date of Event: Thursday 30th January 2025
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Venue/City: Common Room, Hastings, New Zealand
Date of Event: Friday 24th January 2025
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Venue/City: January Meeanee Memorial Hall, Napier, New Zealand
Date of Event: Thursday 23rd January 2025
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Venue/City: Under the Tauranga Harbour Bridge, Tauranga, New Zealand
Date of Event: Sunday 19th January 2025
Photos By: Leoni Moreland (Courtesy of Red Raven News)
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Date of Event: Thursday 9th January 2025
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Date of Event: Saturday 21st December 2024
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Date of Event: Saturday 30th November 2024
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Date of Event: Friday 29th November 2024
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Date of Event: Wednesday 27th November 2024
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Date of Event: Saturday 23rd November 2024
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Date of Event: Thursday 21st November 2024
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Date of Event: Sunday 17th November 2024
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Venue/City: Eden Park, Auckland, NZL
Date of Event: Wednesday, 13th November 2024
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Venue/City: Whammy Bar, Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Event: Tuesday 22nd October 2024
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Date of Event: Saturday, 26th October 2024
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Date of Event: Wednesday 23rd October 2024
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Venue/City: The Tuning Fork, Auckland, NZL
Date of Event: Wednesday, 16th October 2024
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Date of Event: Saturday 21st September 2024
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Date of Event: Monday 16th September 2024
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Date of Event: Saturday 14th September 2024
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Venue/City: Princess Theatre, Brisbane, AUS
Date of Event: Thursday, 12th September 2024
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ahead of their tour down-under this March.
Look-out for the full interview on The Metal Bar & Libel Music.
Review By: Riccardo Ball
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Date of Event: Saturday 1st March 2025
Review By: Rob Harbers
Artist/Band: M Ward Sup by Tom Cunliffe
Venue/City: Te Awanga Community Hall, Napier, New Zealand
Date of Event: Friday 28th February 2025
Review By: Collaborated Review by (ADTR - Steve Shyu), (Hatebreed - Riccardo Ball)
Artist/Band: A Day to Remember Supported by Hatebreed
Venue/City: Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Event: Tuesday 25th February 2025
Review By: Rob Harbers
Artist/Band: Distance, Myriad Drone Supported by Fvkvshima
Venue/City: Paisley Stage, Napier, New Zealand
Date of Event: Saturday 22nd February 2025
Review By: Rob Harbers
Artist/Band: Arahi (Presented by the small hall sessions)
Venue/City: King George Hall, Bay View, Napier, New Zealand
Date of Event: Friday 14th February 2025
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Venue/City: Black Barn, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Date of Event: Friday 31st January 2025
Review By: Riccardo Ball
Artist/Band: Wardruna (SUP by Turongo Collective)
Venue/City: Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Event: Thursday 30th January 2025
Review By: Rob Harbers
Artist/Band: Charm of Finches
Venue/City: Te Awanga Hall, Te Awing, Napier, New Zealand
Date of Event: Wednesday 29th January 2025
Review By: Rob Harbers
Artist/Band: South for Winter
Venue/City: Common Room, Hastings, New Zealand
Date of Event: Friday 24th January 2025
Review By: Rob Harbers
Artist/Band: C.W. Stoneking
Venue/City: Meeanee Memorial Hall, Napier, New Zealand
Date of Event: Thursday 23rd January 2025
Review By: Leza E
Artist/Band: The Schizophonics, SUP Grown Downz
Venue/City: Under The Bridge Tauranga, New Zealand
Date of Event: Sunday 19th January 2025
Review By: Rob Harbers
Artist/Band: The Schizophonics, SUP by The B.U.M’s
Venue/City: Rosemary’s, Taupo, New Zealand
Date of Event: Thursday 9th January 2025
By: Riccardo Ball
Riccardo and Einar Selvik talk about Wardruna, Einar finding his voice, his cultural connection and being a modern day Viking ahead of his band touring Australia and New Zealand this coming January 2025
By: Rob Harbers
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Date: Saturday 21st December 2024
Venue: Paisley Stage, Napier, New Zealand
By: Sarah Kidd
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Date: Sunday 1st December 2024
Venue: Spark Arena, Auckland New Zealand
Review by: Rob Harbers
Artist: Sea Mouse with support from Lizard Prom
Date: Friday 29th November 2024
Venue: Paisley Stage, Napier, New Zealand
By: Rob Harbers
Artist: Spotlights Supported by Lizard Prom
Date: Wednesday 27th November 2024
Venue: Paisley Stage, Napier, New Zealand
By: Andra Jenkin
Artist: Crowded House (Supported by Mel Parsons)
Date: Saturday 23rd November 2024
Venue: Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
By: Riccardo Ball
Artist: The Cult (Supported by Death & the Maiden)
Date: Thursday 21st November 2024
Venue: Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
By: Sarah Kidd
Artist: Twenty One Pilots
Date: Sunday 17th November 2024
Venue: Spark Arena, Auckland NZL
By: Sarah Kidd
Artist: Mother Mother
Date: Thursday 14th November 2024
Venue: Auckland Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand
By: Reviewer Name: Sarah Kidd
Artist: Band/Artist Name: COLDPLAY
Date: Wednesday 13th November 2024
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
By: Steve Shyu
Band/Artist Name: Iron Maiden Supported by Killswitch Engage
Date: Monday 16th September 2024
Venue: Spark Arena, Auckland, NZL
By: Reviewer Name: Steve Shyu
Artist: Band/Artist Name: SiM, Sup by Revoid & Banks Arcade
Date: Thursday 12th September 2024
Venue: Venue, Princess Theatre, Brisbane, AUS
By: Steve Shyu
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Venue: The Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand
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Date: Friday 17th June 2022
Venue: Great Town Hall, Auckland, NZL
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Artist: Band/Artist Name Chelsea Wolfe
Date: Friday 10th June 2022
Venue: Powerstation, Auckland, NZL
Photos By: Ginny Cocks
Artist/Band: Jinjer Supported by Khadga
Venue/City: Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Event: Monday 3rd March 2025