Bic Runga Red Sunset Tour Hamilton: New album worth the 15-year wait

Bic Runga performed her new album Red Sunset in Hamilton. Photo / Levi Santana

What: Red Sunset by Bic Runga

When: Saturday, March 21

Where: BNZ Theatre, Hamilton

Reviewed by Abby Dalgety

As I walked into the BNZ Theatre for Silicon, the opening act for Bic Runga, I did a double-take.

The support act was meant to start at 7.40pm, yet there was Bic herself on drums, casually doing backing vocals.

I hadn’t heard of Silicon before, though I did know of Kody Neilson from his time with The Mint Chicks and, of course, as Runga’s long-time partner.

Their set was energetic, fun and the perfect way to set the tone for a night that blended fresh new music with a hit of nostalgia.

It has taken Runga 15 years to release a new album, and it was absolutely worth the wait.

Between songs, she chatted warmly about the beautiful new theatre, her team and the journey behind the record.

She joked about wanting to name the album after the song titled Escape from Planet Earth but decided it sounded a bit too apocalyptic; Ghost in Your Bed was also on the list, but it felt “maybe a bit too scary.”

She ultimately landed on Red Sunset, which ended up being one of the standout moments of the night.

The red-washed lighting and the striking contemporary eye visuals on the video backdrop amplified that effortlessly cool vibe Runga is so well known for.

Throughout the new songs, I noticed clear colour themes.

The festoon lights draped across the stage, the stage lighting design, and the video screen all shifted to a single, dominant hue for each track.

It felt intentional, almost metaphorical, adding visual depth to the music.

Home Run was another highlight, bathed in soft pinks that gave the song a tender, feminine warmth.

As a mum myself, I couldn’t help but love Hey Little One, which she dedicated to her children in the audience. Her daughter Sophia had just turned 13 the day before.

It was also the moment I found myself thinking: How is this woman a mother of teenagers when she hasn’t aged a day?

Runga blended her new tracks (Hamilton was the first stop on the tour, so we were lucky enough to hear them live for the very first time) with some of her beloved classics.

Drive was performed solo, Runga alone on stage, giving the song the spotlight it deserves.

She closed the night with Sway, the crowd happily singing along.

It was a perfect end to a stunning show.

Runga certainly didn’t feel like an artist returning after a 15-year gap, her new songs arrived fully formed, confident and already settling in like future favourites.

Abby Dalgety is a tutor at the School of Media Arts at Wintec in Hamilton. She has been writing reviews for the Waikato Herald since 2023.