Oz pop sensation Tones and I to play Bay show

Tones And I is coming to the Bay of Plenty to headline a show. Photo / Marc Grimwade/WireImage

Dance Monkey singer busked in Byron Bay and lived in a van for a year. Now the Australian pop star is coming to the Mount.

Australian pop sensation Tones and I will bring a headline show for all ages at Trustpower Baypark on January 5.

The record-breaking Dance Monkey singer has had a stellar year, topping the charts in 25 countries, and her star is now also rapidly rising in the US since she received a standing ovation for her performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on November 18.

With a reputation for securing some of the biggest names in music who rarely make it to New Zealand shores — such as hip-hop icon Cardi B, Pato Entertainment, Audiology and ZM are proud to bring Tones and I's only New Zealand headliner show to Tauranga.

She will also perform at music festival Bay Dreams on January 2, alongside a huge line up of other music superstars.

"The hype around Tones and I and her music is so big. She has fans from 8-10 years right up to 50-60. It's good to have events such as this for the whole family to attend as part of our summer calendar," said Pato Alvarez from Pato Entertainment.

Originally from Australia's Mornington Peninsula, Tones and I travelled to Byron Bay in early 2018 to take a chance at busking.

From the first day, she had crowds spilling onto the street, so she decided to quit her retail job and made Byron Bay her new home, where she lived out of her van for the year.

Tones, whose real name is Toni Watson, is having a massive year.

It started with her debut single Johnny Run Away which was released on March 1.

Shortly after, it was picked by radio stations across Australia and raced to ARIA certified gold sales.

Within a few months, the young singer/songwriter was propelled into stardom, topping global charts, selling out shows worldwide, and enjoying a record 16 weeks at No 1 in Australia.

Recently, she broke yet another record, for the biggest crowd of an opening act ever at the annual music festival Splendour In the Grass with and audience of 20,000 coming to watch her midday set.

"When I was busking, when I was paying for petrol with silver coins or when I was sneaking into hostels so I could park my van up and sleep in it, I had the best time of my life," she said on Australia's Nova radio.

Tones' second release Dance Monkey has reached No 1 in 25 countries.

It reached No 1 in the global streaming chart in no time and sits firmly in the top 20 Spotify global 50.

Collectively, Tones now has over 70 million streams per month, and counting.

Although the singer's popularity has been fuelled by online platforms, Dance Monkey relates to the challenges she encountered as a busker trying to capture attention from audiences distracted by smartphones and social media.

"Dance Monkey is about how our appreciation of live performance diminished as we are being instantly entertained with a click of a button on social media," she said.

Tones and I will be joined on January 5 by New Zealand's own edgy alt-pop artist Theia.

Hailed as one of New Zealand's most exciting acts, Theia has been making waves since the release of her breakthrough hit Roam from her debut EP, which earned her three nominations at the 2017 NZ Music Awards and a nod for Breakthrough Artist at the 2017 Georgie Awards.

Theia's success has taken her across the globe, playing shows in Australia, Asia and the United States.

You can also catch her this summer playing at the Bay Dreams Warm-up Party at the Mount on January 1.

• We are giving away three double passes to Tones and I with special guest Theia. This one and only New Zealand solo show is for all ages. See indulgemag on Facebook for entry details. Terms and conditions apply.

What to know

What: Tones and I

Where: Trustpower Baypark, 81 Truman Ln, Mount Maunganui

When: Sunday, January 5, 6.30pm

Tickets for Tones and I's all-ages show with special guest Theia are on sale at ticketfairy.com.