TAHINI BIKINI
Funk Up The Country!
Tahini Bikini and Sig Wilder & Friends are joining forces for a cross-genre music experience across Aotearoa’s North Island. Two great acts colliding at the intersection of country and funk. Together they are setting out on their most ambitious tour to date with 10 of Wellington’s finest musicians and creatives bringing the boogie to you. 7 shows across 2 weeks in Raglan, Leigh, Auckland, Tauranga, Whakatāne, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay plus performances at Wellington’s https://www.instagram.com/tahinibikiniband/Cuba Dupa festival. You don’t want to miss this!
Tahini Bikini:
Pōneke-based Tahini Bikini are known for their distinctive sound, a combination of funk, soul and pop influences elevated by frontwoman Mads Taylor’s frank, feisty lyrics and smoky voice. The seven-piece group released their debut album Fever Dream in 2022, and have since become a fixture at festivals across Aotearoa, performing at Rhythm & Vines, Great Sounds Great, Welcome to Nowhere, Cuba Dupa, Outfield, Twisted Frequency and more. As well as Mads on lead vocals, the band features a talented collective of musicians: Mathew Campbell (vocals/percussion) Darcy Monteath (bass), Eric Sebastian (drums), Alex Scott-Billing (guitar) Cameron Robertson (trumpet) and Aidan Mcculloch (saxophone/keys).
In 2025 Tahini Bikini released a run of confident, polished singles, with lines like “tell me does it taste good when you lick those boots?” from 'Mother' emphasising a turn towards a more pointed, critical tone in the Mads’ songwriting.
More: instagram.com/tahinibikiniband
Sig Wilder & Friends:
Sig Wilder & Friends are Aotearoa’s alt-country storytellers. The band is a D.I.Y. collective currently featuring Mads Taylor (drums/vocals), Tessa Dillon (bass/vocals), Sofia Machray (guitar/vocals) and Sig on lead vocals/guitar. Since forming, they’ve become a familiar fixture in Wellington’s independent music scene, toured around Aotearoa, and won media acclaim from The Post, Ensemble Magazine, Under The Radar, and Radio Active 88.6 FM. As Sig knows, personal growth is a long and winding road. “This project is about becoming content with who I am,” he says. “That’s how it started, and I am in no way finished on that journey. But I’m happy with the cowboy that I’ve become, regardless of any notions of how one “should” be a cowboy.” With heartfelt storytelling and infectious melodies, Sig Wilder & Friends take the listener on a journey through the hills and plains of Aotearoa, weaving the essence of Americana into the fabric of Aotearoa’s musical landscape.
TOI
Live in Raglan, for one night only this summer.
New Zealand band TOI (formerly known as Tunes of I) are stoked to bring some new music to a live audience.
Their penchant for soulful dub with a funk twist has won them a hard-earned reputation as one of the tightest bands on Aotearoa New Zealand's live scene.
Featuring members of Fat Freddy’s Drop, L.A.B., Deva Mahal, Creative Nātives and session musicians for Six60 and 1814, TOI is well known for the band members’ chops and ability to bring an unforgettable live performance to any stage.
Estére
Estère is a Cameroonian Kiwi artist, producer and DJ known for her self-coined genre electric blue witch-hop, a vivid fusion of electronic production, vintage textures, afro-fusion and folk. A self-taught beat-maker, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, she creates immersive sonic worlds shaped by elastic harmonies, intricate rhythms and playful found-sounds. Her soulful, expressive voice anchors her storytelling, exploring personal, mythical and political themes.
With three acclaimed albums and an ASMR inspired EP, Estère has earned praise from Elle Magazine France, Afropunk, RNZ, The Guardian and more. Her production credits include collaborations with Jordan Rakei, Deva Mahal and Oddisee, and she placed Top 10 in the global Stonesthrow Records beat-making competition. In 2023 she released “Finer” with Nightmares on Wax on Warp Records.
A magnetic live performer, Estère has opened for Grace Jones, Erykah Badu, Peaches and Hiatus Kaiyote, and performed at festivals worldwide including Glastonbury, Afropunk Paris, WOMAD, Bushfire and Sori Arts Festival. She has headlined sold-out shows across the UK, France and New Zealand, and was twice nominated for the Aotearoa Music Awards.
Her creative range extends into conceptual performance, including her 2020 show Into the Belly of Capricorn and her role as the first-ever headline artist for the World of Wearable Art Awards Show in 2022.
Now based in London, Estère is entering a new chapter inspired by reconnecting with her Cameroonian heritage. She has begun weaving her tribal language Bassa and other African languages into her songwriting, themes that shape her forthcoming 2026 album Diaspora Baby. She also founded DiaxXpora, a London-based community and event series celebrating creatives from diaspora backgrounds.
Muroki - Summer Tour
Aotearoa’ssoulfulindie-grooveartistMurokiwillreleasehislong-awaiteddebutfull-lengthalbumAmberSkieson30January2026,followedbyarunofnineheadlineshowsacrossthemotuwithhisfullband.TheAmberSkiestourmarksMuroki’sfirstfullnationaltoursince2023andseeshimreturningfromhisadoptedhomeofBerlintoreconnectwithfansinaseriesofsummerperformances.
Mokomokai
RAGLAN, NZ — This summer, MOKOMOKAI, are taking over The Yard Bar alongside their friends Brandn Shiraz & Caru on support
Mokomokai is one of Aotearoa’s most enigmatic underground hip hop acts to
come out in recent years.
Known for their unique blend of sounds drawing from 70s soul, gritty drum loops,
and confident often playful lyricism. They are recognized for their raw, deliberate
and authentic sound, which has been described as both a masterclass in local
hip-hop and a bold statement: raw, refined, and wholly original.
Venue: The Yard Music Café & Bar, Volcom Lane, Raglan
Date: 31st January 2026
Time: 8pm til late
Headline: MOKOMOKAI
Support: Caru & Brandn Shiraz
MIRAGE
Mirage return to play another banger of a summer show at Raglan's finest music venue 'The Yard". This is set to be a frothin HUGE night of live music from Mt Maunganui band Mirage.
The chart topping band will play their hits 'Summer Won't be the Same" and 'Before the Night" along with some of the best psychedelic & indie tracks ever made like 'Cyclone" (Sticky Fingers), Confidence (Ocean Alley), and the Sun Comes up (Mako Road). Other artists covered include Kora, Corella, Six60, Hendrix & Amy Winehouse + others.
Mirage have earned their reputation as one of the best live bands around, with a smouldering hot live music show they have performed at festivals including Soundsplash, One Love, and toured with local legends Summer Thieves.
Last years show at the Yard was a sweaty, frothy, banger of a night & this year will be even better.
Mirage are heading overseas next year so catch them while you can and witness one of the BEST LIVE MUSIC nights you will EVER see.... send out the summer in psychedelic style....
Shooless
From the underground of Tāmaki Makaurau (AKL) Shooless are heading down to their favourite west coast venue ‘The Yard’ on the Friday the 23rd of January. After having a small break over Xmas/NY they are eager to dust off the cobwebs and break in some new tunes down by the beach.
Joined by their good friends Community Treatment Order, this is the perfect gig for you summer friday night down in raglan.
Expect a tasteful mix of Alt-Rock, Shoegaze, Post-Punk and Indie.
Door sales available but will be slightly more.
Slack Sundays- Kate Bollinger (US), The Grogans ( AUST) + more
The Slack Agency is delighted to present slackSUNDAYS @ The Yard, Raglan
Don't feel like making the commute to the mighty SLACKBARN! music festival at Blackbarn vineyards or keen for round two? Slack has you covered, we are bringing a generous portion to Raglan for a Sunday extravaganza. We will be taking over the yard courtyard to make the most of summer.
slackSUNDAYS! Featuring:
Kate Bollinger (USA)
The Grogans (AUS)
+ more TBA
Kate Bollinger, the Virginia-born, LA-based multidisciplinary artist is thrilled to announce her debut shows downunder. bringing her introspective lyrics, breezy melodies, and genre-blending sound to audiences Bearing freshly announced deluxe version of her critically acclaimed album ‘Song From A Thousand Minds’.
“I wanted to make some more kind of home-recorded versions of the songs. Bring them closer to what they were when I first wrote them,” she adds. For “Any Day Now”, she and co-producer Jackson MacIntosh (Sheer Agony, TOPS, Homeshake) recorded a more sparse and intimate cassette 4-track version. A jangle-pop gem in its album form, the track is reimagined with layers of acoustic guitars and a barely-there snare drum.
The Grogans are one of Australia’s hardest working young bands. Forming in 2016 whilst in high school, the Melbourne/Naarm trio haven’t stopped since, releasing 3 EPs ‘Cacteyed’, ‘Twangs n Cans’ and ‘Grogan Grove’, and 4 albums in ‘Just What You Want’, ‘Day To Day’, ‘Which Way Is Out’ and most recently 'Find Me A Cloud'. Each release has seen the genre-hopping trio showcase their musical ability, touching on blues, surf and garage rock as well as manoeuvres in punk and psych.
The Grogans have supported an array of Australian & international acts including Ocean Alley, WAVVES (US), Hockey Dad and The Chats as well as sharing festival line-ups with Franz Ferdinand, Los Bitchos and The Teskey Brothers.
The band have completed a plethora of domestic & international touring across AUS/NZ, US/CAN and UK/EU tours which have included sell out shows all over the world as well as appearances at national and international festivals.
Caravana Sun - Sat Jan 10
Caravãna Sun return to Aotearoa, New Zealand, with a tour that promises to stir hearts and ignite dancefloors!
Hailed as “the most explosive performance ever witnessed” (LOST Magazine), Caravãna Sun are renowned for their electrifying live shows, blending sun-soaked reggae, sweeping indie grooves, and infectious energy that sweeps audiences into one big celebration. From huge singalongs to soul-stirring moments of intimacy, the band thrives on creating a genuine connection with their crowd.
Over the past decade, Caravãna Sun has cemented their reputation as one of the world’s finest live acts. They’ve toured the globe alongside icons such as Madness, UB40, The Cat Empire, and Fat Freddy’s Drop, headlined major European festivals, and built a devoted following with their uplifting, genre-blurring sound.
With new music on the horizon and an ever-growing catalogue of fan favourites, this is a chance to experience Caravãna Sun in full flight. Expect driving guitar riffs, horn stabs, swirling synths, and a rhythm section that builds into euphoric crescendos—often ending in a sweaty, joy-fuelled party.
Catch Caravãna Sun live this summer in Aotearoa and be ready to move, sing, and lose yourself in a night of unforgettable music.
Lost Tribe Aotearoa
Lost Tribe Aotearoa return to Raglan for a special outdoor summer show at The Yard.
Their last hometown gig completely sold out — so if you’re planning to be there, make sure you lock in your tickets early.
This time we’re bringing it outside: bigger space, bigger sound, bigger energy.
Expect full-band power, brass section in full swing, and that signature LTA roots-dub-ska vibe made for open-air dancing.
Alongside the crowd favourites, the band will also debut brand-new music from their upcoming album, giving audiences an exclusive first listen before it drops in 2026. Fresh tunes, new direction, same LTA soul.
Bikes in Space
Jonathan Crayford and Joe Kaptein introduce their project 'Bikes In Space' an electronic vintage keys and drums driven fully improvised groove space junk ensemble that sounds like what it might be like to be in the brain of Philip K Dick, Ursula Le Guin or Margaret St Clair - except more. After a 2 month tour of Auckland, they hit The Yard, Raglan with added punch to the drums in the form of Max Crook.
No Cigar
Since their formation in 2019, NO CIGAR have rapidly established themselves as one of New Zealand's most promising semi-rock acts, captivating audiences with infectious grooves, sharp storytelling, and an unmistakable live presence. Their rise has been fuelled by dynamic, high-energy performances that have earned them a loyal and ever-growing fanbase both at home and abroad. Following recent sell-out tours across the UK, Europe, and Australia, and with their new album Under The Surface arriving in July 2025, NO CIGAR continue to cement their place as a standout force on the international stage.
This summer, they return home for a run of intimate, high-impact headline shows across the North Island. Kicking off in Raglan, rolling into the iconic Leigh Sawmill, and closing out in Mount Maunganui, the tour offers fans a chance to experience the band in their element: up close, loud, and full of momentum. Expect a setlist that weaves beloved tracks with fresh cuts from their new album, delivered with the warm, electric energy that has defined their rise.
