By Ieuan Holland
Published in Record Collector Magazine
Executive Overview
Nearly 12,000 miles away from the sun-drenched student flats of Dunedin where their journey began, multi-platinum New Zealand powerhouse SIX60 transformed the hallowed, cavernous expanse of London’s Royal Albert Hall into an intimate, high-energy local gig on Wednesday, 7th October 2026. Bringing their acclaimed Don’t Forget Your Roots tour to the UK capital, the band delivered a masterclass in genre-blending musicianship, cultural pride, and emotional resonance.
In doing so, SIX60 cemented their legacy in transatlantic touring history, becoming only the third New Zealand band ever to headline the prestigious venue, following in the illustrious footsteps of Crowded House and The Finn Brothers. Playing to a capacity crowd packed to the rafters—including high-profile expatriates such as Black Ferns rugby icon Ruby Tui—the group delivered their biggest UK headline show to date.
The evening was much more than a standard tour stop; it was a profound cultural celebration. By weaving together elements of ska, reggae, funk, soul, and traditional Māori performance, SIX60 proved that music has the power to shrink the globe, turning a rainy Wednesday night in South Kensington into a vibrant slice of Aotearoa.
Detailed Chronology: An Evening of Connection and Catharsis
Setting the Scene and Opening Notes
Anticipation hung thick in the air of the historic auditorium long before the lights dimmed. The auditory scene was masterfully set by the timeless strains of Bob Marley’s Could You Be Loved, a nod to the band’s deep reggae influences. As the opening chords faded, a solo organist took over, weaving a melodic bridge that welcomed the members of SIX60 onto the stage individually. Each arrival was met with a roar from the packed stalls and boxes.
Without missing a beat, the band launched straight into the aptly named We Made It. The emotional weight of the lyric "All of my people here with me" immediately reverberated through the venue, establishing a symbiotic relationship between the stage and the audience that would persist for the remainder of the evening.
Storytelling and Cultural Immersion
Throughout the performance, lead singer Matiu Walters served as both master of ceremonies and intimate storyteller. Pausing between high-octane numbers, Walters spun yarns detailing the band’s humble origins in Dunedin, the trials and triumphs of their global journey, and the creative processes behind their multi-platinum catalog.
The emotional zenith of the evening arrived during a breathtaking rendition of the tour’s namesake, Don’t Forget Your Roots. Elevating the performance from a standard concert to an unforgettable cultural landmark, the band was joined on stage by members of the Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club. The collaborative performance served as a poignant reminder of the core tenets of Aotearoa’s indigenous culture: whānau (family), identity, and the importance of carrying a piece of home no matter how far one travels.
This deep sense of cultural grounding resonated profoundly with the thousands of New Zealand natives scattered throughout the venue. Tears flowed freely among the crowd—a sentiment mirrored on stage, where bassist Chris Mac ensured his glass remained as full as the collective heart of the audience.
Sonic Landscapes and Pacing
Musically, the concert showcased the eclectic sonic palette that has defined SIX60’s career. Refusing to be boxed into a single genre, the band seamlessly navigated the territories of upbeat ska, rhythmic reggae, driving funk, and deeply emotive soul.
Tracks like Someone To Be Around highlighted the signature up-and-down reggae strumming patterns that form the backbone of many of their arrangements, perfectly complementing Walters’ sharp lyricism. Conversely, the tempo was skillfully drawn back with Right Here Right Now, allowing the emotionally charged crowd to catch their breath and revel in the collective realization that a piece of home was soundtracking their London evening.
As the main set hurtled toward its conclusion, powerhouse performances of Up There, Ghosts, and White Lines drove the venue into a fever pitch of sound and light, bringing the official setlist to a triumphant close.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Anatomy of a Global Phenomenon
A Rare Milestone in Venue History
To understand the magnitude of SIX60’s achievement on October 7, 2026, one must examine the historical significance of the Royal Albert Hall. Since opening in 1871, the South Kensington venue has hosted the world’s most iconic acts, from rock royalty like Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix to classical legends.
However, antipodean headliners remain a rarity. By stepping onto the stage as headliners, SIX60 joined an ultra-exclusive club alongside fellow New Zealand luminaries Crowded House and The Finn Brothers.
The Setlist Breakdown & Musical Evolution
The tour’s name, Don’t Forget Your Roots, serves as an ethos for a band that has consistently broken streaming and ticket-sales records in Australasia while steadily building an international footprint.
| Track | Primary Genre / Vibe | Cultural & Narrative Significance |
|---|---|---|
| We Made It | Anthem / Rock-Pop | Set the tone for the evening, acknowledging the long physical and metaphorical journey from Dunedin to London. |
| Don’t Forget Your Roots | Reggae / Soul / Cultural Fusion | Elevated by the live appearance of the Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club; served as the thematic anchor of the night. |
| Someone To Be Around | Reggae / Pop | Demonstrated the band’s rhythmic precision and signature guitar-driven upstroke style. |
| Right Here Right Now | Soul / Mid-tempo Ballad | Provided an emotional breather, fostering collective reflection among the expatriate-heavy audience. |
| Up There / Ghosts / White Lines | High-energy Rock / Funk | The closing trifecta that drove the Royal Albert Hall into a communal, celebratory crescendo. |
The Expatriate Community and Cultural Impact
The concert drew a cross-section of the global New Zealand diaspora. Among the capacity crowd was Black Ferns star Ruby Tui, whose presence underscored the deep connection between New Zealand’s cultural ambassadors abroad. For the thousands of Kiwi expats living in the UK, the concert functioned as an emotional anchor point—a communal space to celebrate shared identity, language, and heritage far from the Pacific.
Official Statements & Reflections
Reflecting on the night, frontman Matiu Walters noted the surreal nature of looking out across a sold-out London crowd that mirrored the warmth and intimacy of a local gig back home in Aotearoa:
"Playing a venue like this is something you dream about when you’re jamming in a damp flat in Dunedin. But looking out tonight and seeing all our people—our whānau from home and those who have made lives over here—it didn’t feel like a massive London hall. It felt like home."
Collaborators and cultural organizations also shared in the triumph. Representatives from the Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club praised the band for utilizing their platform on a world-renowned stage to showcase traditional Māori performance arts to an international audience, bridging geographic divides through art and heritage.
Future Outlook: What Lies Ahead for SIX60
With their triumphant conquest of London’s Royal Albert Hall now etched into music history, SIX60 show no signs of slowing down. The Don’t Forget Your Roots tour moves swiftly forward, bringing the boys a busy and demanding end to 2026.
Following their UK success, the band’s itinerary features upcoming stops across Europe, the United States, and Asia—including a highly anticipated run of shows in Hawaii, where their message of cultural preservation and unity is expected to resonate just as powerfully as it did in London.
As the international music community takes note of their boundary-pushing live performances and enduring songwriting prowess, the primary question on the minds of British fans is not if SIX60 will return, but how soon. Until then, the memory of October 7, 2026, will remain a testament to the fact that wherever New Zealanders go, their roots—and their music—are never far behind.
Tickets for remaining dates on the SIX60 global tour can be found via Ticketmaster UK.
