'Stoked': Balclutha wins prized Six60 shows

Six60 members (from left) Marlon Gerbes, Chris Mac, Matiu Walters and Ji Fraser go acoustic...
Six60 members (from left) Marlon Gerbes, Chris Mac, Matiu Walters and Ji Fraser go acoustic during their Grassroots Tour performance at the Civic Theatre in Invercargill in May. Photo: Nina Tapu
It's official - Six60 are coming to Balclutha after fans won a vote to bring New Zealand's biggest band to the small Otago town.  

The capital of Clutha district beat four other New Zealand towns to win an "encore concert" from the band as an extension of its recently completed Grassroots Aotearoa Tour.

“We are absolutely stoked to get our favourite band to Clutha," Clutha District Mayor Bryan Cadogan said.

"This is such a bonus opportunity for our district to celebrate, and we are looking forward to hosting Six60 in true southern style."

Grabbing votes to get Kiwi band Six60 live in Balclutha are (from left) Clutha District Council...
Grabbing votes to get Kiwi band Six60 live in Balclutha are (from left) Clutha District Council staff member Lilly Paterson, Mayor Bryan Cadogan, youth councillor Priya Baskar, Cr Gaynor Finch, staff member Cheryl-Marie Moana and Cr Ken Payne. PHOTO: NICK BROOK
The band will play a matinee and a night show on Saturday, August 31, at Balclutha’s new venue Te Pou Ō Mata-Au (Tpoma).

"We can’t wait to connect with our fans in Balclutha, who voted to bring One More Show of the Grassroots Tour NZ to their town," the band said in a statement.

Mr Cadogan, a Six60 fan, said about 10 years ago band was "fired-up" for a Balclutha concert at Telford’s massive indoor equestrian centre.

"And right at that moment, their success exploded and they were offered opportunities overseas they couldn’t pass up."

This time around, the Clutha Youth Council was not leaving anything to chance and issued a plea to locals: "Please vote — we need to rally together to bring Six60 to our town."

Their call has been answered,

Presale tickets go on sale on Thursday, August 1, at the via the One NZ Rewards page.

A limited number of tickets to the show will be available at eccles.co.nz on Friday, August 2.