"We’ve tried to see Six60 four times in New Zealand and Australia", Laken Simmons, who had travelled from Invercargill with her husband, Daniel, said.
"But the tickets sold out while we were in line or Covid got in the way.
"They were fantastic, exactly how we hoped it would be ... There’s no way they can meet and hang out with all their fans but a show like that — you can tell they would if they could."
Stripped-back "town hall" arrangements of Six60’s most popular tunes grooved through two sold-out Balclutha shows, and also happened to land on the birthday week of the venue — Clutha District War Memorial and Community Centre, Te Pou ō Mata-Au (TPŌMA).
Spurred by youth and district councils, Balclutha won a vote out of five New Zealand towns to host one final encore performance of Six60’s extensive 2024 transtasman Grassroots Tour. The tour’s technical crew were satisfied with the show.
"Whoever designed this place knew their business and had a good think, and spent their money well", sound engineer Chris Tate said.
"Setting up and sounding how we want to sound was easy."
Six60 guitarist and lead vocalist Matiu Walters was pleased to hear it.
"We’ve been doing this so long now the team’s a well-oiled machine we totally trust, so if Chris is happy we’re happy", he said.
"We cross paths with other bands all the time ... We knew [country-rock singer] Kaylee Bell played here and word definitely gets around about where you can put on a good show."
Confidence in the venue allowed New Zealand’s biggest soul-rock band to relax and focus on their roots.
"My mum’s Scottish ancestor William Hay arrived in the Catlins 175 years ago on the Ajax, and settled in Romahapa", Mr Walters said.
"So it’s our first time playing in Balclutha but I’ve stopped here a few times to see family and play rugby back when I was a scarfie.
"I won’t say whereabouts in Clutha we’re staying ... but yesterday we went out to the Nuggets lighthouse and Kaka Pt, and today Golds Bakery up the road opened specially for us so we could grab a pie and have a bit of a walk around town.
"There’s another big supermarket and this flash new venue, but other than that it feels like the same old place."
With the Grassroots Tour officially wound up in small-town Balclutha, Six60 has a week to relax before heading over to Europe.
