Sold-out Six60 concert in Tokomaru Bay ‘epic’

It was a night to remember when Six60’s Ji Fraser, Matiu Walters, Marlon Gerbes and Chris Mac played to a full house at the Te Puka Tavern at Tokomaru Bay on Monday. The group are halfway through their 24-concert Grassroots Tour and played to another sell-out crowd at Gisborne War Memorial Theatre last night. Picture supplied

The Te Puka tavern in Tokomaru Bay hosted music royalty on Monday night when Six60 played a sold-out gig as part of their Grassroots Tour.

Te Puka Tavern GM Chris Woodney said the concert was a huge success and everything went off without a hitch.

“It was amazing — epic. There were big smiles all round in the audience with locals making the most of having one of New Zealand’s top groups playing in their home town.”

Stand-out songs were Don’t Forget Your Roots, especially the section in te reo Māori, and White Lines.

“They played all of their No.1 hits, as well as some acoustic songs, and even though the production was pared back, the music was still on point,” Woodney said.

“It was hugely intimate which made it really special.”

One concert-goer said they had seen the band multiple times but had never got as close.

“The police were awesome, as were our crew — security and the volunteers. We had no problems at all.”

With mics positioned in the 200-strong crowd, the vibe of the concert was captured in a live recording.

It had been Woodney’s goal since starting as general manager of the Te Puka Tavern 10 months ago to bring more music acts to the pub, so he was stoked to have been part of such a successful concert.

“When I got a call from Eccles Entertainment telling me about the Grassroots Tour, I didn’t hesitate to say yes to putting on a concert here.

“And it couldn’t have gone better.”

He is hoping the Puka will attract big-name bands in the future when they see that sometimes the smaller venues punch above their weight in terms of putting on a world-class show.

The Six60 entourage headed down State Highway 35 to Gisborne for the next stop on their tour — War Memorial Theatre last night.

It was part of a 24-venue tour which started at Te Kao in Northland and goes all the way south to Stewart Island before ending at the Barrier Social Club on Great Barrier Island on May 18.

• The group then cross the Tasman for a 20-date tour starting in Cairns on May 25.