Alex Turner (L) of the Arctic Monkeys performs at the Powerstation on the eve of the Big Day Out. Photo / Dean Purcell
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The cool charms of the Arctic Monkeys set the Powerstation alight last night, as they played a special Big Day Out sideshow before today's festival.
A capacity crowd packed the small concert venue, which sold out last month, to hear the Mercury Prize winners up close and personal.
The tour, which began in Wellington on Tuesday, marks the first time the British band have performed in more than a year, having spent 2008 working on their third album.
They marked the occasion by playing four new tracks - Dangerous Animals, Pretty Visitors, Go-Kart and Crying Lightning.
The tour marks their second visit to New Zealand, following a rollicking sellout show at Auckland's St James Theatre in 2006.
Since then, the band have cemented their reputation as the Great British band of their generation with their sophomore album Favourite Worst Nightmare in 2007, which was also nominated for the Mercury Prize.
They headline today's Big Day Out festival, alongside iconic rocker Neil Young, playing the orange stage of the main stadium at 8pm.
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