Let the game begin! Six60 announces concert at Eden Park

Six60 will make New Zealand history by becoming the first local band to play a concert at Auckland’s iconic Eden Park stadium.

Today the band announced that they had emerged victorious in battle to play shows at the famous sports venue. The award-winning group will headline the 50,000-capacity stadium on Saturday, April 24, a date only six weeks away.

Chuckling at any suggestion that this quick-change timeline is a more subtle ‘six’ mark, Six60 leader Matiu Walters said: ‘I wish it was part of the big plan, but that was the date it worked. We wanted this to happen and it’s great that we finally made it. “

The announcement will be music to the ears of Six60’s large fanbase in Auckland, who have endured watching the band tour in stadiums across the country, playing to 130,000 people at six shows over the summer, without announcing a concert. in his own hometown.

If Eden Park had not been given the green light, there was a very real possibility that Auckland would have been completely lost.

“We don’t really do plans B,” admitted Walters. “We were waiting to get an answer on this. Now we don’t need to do a Plan B. There were no other plans.”

Everything is happening so fast that Walters found out on Friday and the supporting acts have yet to be confirmed. Tickets for the event start at $ 79.90 and go on sale next Monday. Promoters say they expect the historic event to sell out.

Befitting a place that has hosted many tough and iconic sporting moments, it was not an easy victory.

The Eden Park band and bosses faced significant resistance to concerts being held in the suburban venue by the Eden Park Neighbors Association (EPNA), a small but committed collective of neighboring property owners.

Last October, the two sides clashed in a week-long resource consent hearing at Auckland City Hall. Venue management argued that they would be allowed to host their six allowable music events each year without going through the prohibitively expensive hoops of obtaining resource consent for each individual program.

“It was touching and moving forward on different levels,” Walters said. “It was to touch and continue with the audiences and touch and continue with the return of Covid. But we gave ourselves a good opportunity and we got it.”

In a statement, Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner added: “The first concert at Eden Park is an important milestone for both our staff and our community. Six60’s support throughout the resource consent process has been meaning across our company, making it completely fitting, headlining our debut concert at this iconic 118-year-old venue. “

Walters is quick to recognize Eden Park’s rich history and is delighted that people can now stand on the field where legends have been made and the nation’s sporting dreams have come true.

“How great is it that people can have fun and celebrate on the sacred lawn where Rugby World Cups have been won and historic moments have been made? We are going to be able to share that together,” he said. .

“For this to happen, everyone has sacrificed. In Auckland and across the country,” he continued, referring to the various roadblocks New Zealanders have faced. “I feel like this is an opportunity to celebrate our sacrifices and our freedom.”

However, it will not be the first time Walters has entered the field. He played the national anthem at the All Blacks / Wallabies clash last October and won a First XV rugby championship there when he was in school. His grandfather was also captain of the Māori All Blacks in a match against Australia in 1957.

Growing up around the corner from the Mt Eden venue, Walters says he has always wanted to play there.

“My family has blood, sweat and tears on the grass. I have sweated and bled on the grass. I have seen moments that are engraved in the history of my life through sport and, in a way, I have always felt it was my right to birth to be able to play here. And now we are here. And everyone has the opportunity to participate in that and feel included. Which is basically what Six60 stands for. “

Despite the tight deadline to make an idle venue worthy of a show, Walters is confident the band will be ready on game day.

“We are ready because we have been on tour. Skills are high and we are tight,” he said before getting into the spirit of the occasion and adding: “We are in shape. And it is a home game so that will always get you up. “.

• Six60 will play at Eden Park on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Tickets on sale at noon on Monday, March 22 at Ticketmaster