Great North and The Bads stop in at Space Monster on their 14-date national tour next Saturday (April 25).
Supported by duo Brendan and Alison Turner, each band is led by a couple.
The tour celebrates the release of Great North's third album Upin Smoke, named best folk album at the New Zealand Music Awards. It was the group's second Tui, having won the same prize for sophomore release Halves in 2013.
Great North's Americana folk finds inspiration in the here and now of frontman Hayden Donnell's life.
"But I'm definitely changing, I've definitely lost the faith I had. I still have hope, and there's meaning in that."
Donnell said the tour had been well received so far and he was enjoying tailoring the tone of their live set to each audience.
"I think we've tested it now and we've refined it. It's so malleable."
As the band's success grows, Donnell is revelling in being able to step back from full-time work. After the release of last year's album, the Donnells took some time off music and headed overseas.
"We played a show in this tiny little village in the south of France, up a hill, in a church. It was amazing."
Refreshed and with a little more time on his hands, Donnell is turning more of his attention to music.
"It's a dream," he said. "I've been trying to quit work for years. It means I can get out to tour like this. I'm just more serious about it, I guess.
"I'm really conscious about wanting to take advantage of every opportunity, try to develop things and do it right."
Donnell is already working in new material for the band's next album, some of which will get a run at the Wanganui show.
The Bads will play Space Monster on April 25
Touring with them are New Zealand music veterans The Bads, led by Dianne Swann and Brett Adams. The couple have been making music together for more than two decades. Their indie band, The Julie Dolphin, had success in t Britain in the 1990s before they returned to New Zealand in early 2002, before releasing three albums as The Bads.
"We're playing quite a good cross-section of songs from each album," Swann said.
After nearly a quarter of a century creating music together and a raft of other projects, Swann said the spark was still there and another album was on the way.
"We want to keep moving forward," she said.
"It's kind of interesting because it still feels really fresh. I think the fact that we do other projects it still feels special when we do get together to play. It does feel like a good thing. It always has been."
Great North, The Bads and Brendan and Alison Turner play Space Monster on April 25.
