By Ieuan Holland
Reviewed live from the Royal Albert Hall, London
Executive Overview
Nearly 12,000 miles away from their origins in the student flats of Dunedin, New Zealand, multi-platinum heavyweights SIX60 transformed the grand, historic interior of London’s Royal Albert Hall into something remarkably intimate—recreating the raw, unpolished energy of a New Zealand garage gig. On Wednesday, 7th October 2026, the band brought their acclaimed Don’t Forget Your Roots tour to the UK capital, delivering a landmark performance that cemented their status as global ambassadors of Kiwi music.
In front of a capacity crowd packed to the rafters with emotional expatriates, cultural figures—including Black Ferns rugby icon Ruby Tui—and British music fans alike, SIX60 officially became just the third New Zealand band in history to headline the prestigious venue, following in the illustrious footsteps of Crowded House and The Finn Brothers.
Blending an eclectic, cross-genre sonic palette of ska, reggae, funk, and soul, the group delivered a masterclass in modern live performance. More than just a concert, the evening was an exercise in cultural preservation and shared identity. From the opening notes of Bob Marley’s Could You Be Loved to a stirring, tradition-steeped collaboration with the Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club, the night served as an emotional touchstone for thousands of Southern Hemisphere natives living away from home. As the band looks ahead to the remainder of their extensive 2026 international itinerary—including upcoming dates in Hawaii, the wider United States, Asia, and continental Europe—their Royal Albert Hall debut stands as a defining chapter in their ongoing global ascent.
Detailed Chronology: An Evening of Connection and Culture
Pre-Show Atmosphere and the Rise to the Stage
The anticipation inside the Victorian-era architectural masterpiece was palpable long before the first band member stepped into the light. Thousands of New Zealanders—many draped in silver fern flags or sporting traditional taonga—gathered in the corridors and seating tiers of the auditorium, exchanging stories of home and shared heritage.
To set the mood, the venue’s sound system filled the cavernous hall with the timeless vibrations of Bob Marley’s Could You Be Loved, an overt nod to the band’s deep reggae and roots influences. As the song faded, a live organist took over, weaving a solemn, atmospheric melody through the air as the members of SIX60 walked onto the stage one by one. The crowd erupted into a deafening roar, immediately establishing a level of warmth and camaraderie that would persist throughout the night.
Opening Salvos and Narrative Threads
The band wasted no time setting the emotional tone of the evening, launching directly into the aptly titled We Made It. The track resonated powerfully within the historic walls, its central lyric—"All of my people here with me"—acting as a unifying mantra for the capacity audience.
Frontman Matiu Walters commanded the stage with a relaxed, magnetic charisma, seamlessly transitioning between vocal delivery and heartfelt storytelling. Between tracks, Walters shared anecdotes regarding the band’s humble beginnings in Dunedin, reflecting on the long road that led them from backyard jams to the pinnacle of the British live music scene. His casual, yarn-spinning style transformed the daunting scale of the Royal Albert Hall into an intimate living room conversation.
The Cultural Pinnacle: Don’t Forget Your Roots
The emotional apex of the evening arrived during a breathtaking rendition of the band’s signature anthem, Don’t Forget Your Roots. Embodying the literal and metaphorical weight of the song’s title, SIX60 invited members of the Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club to join them on stage.
The collaboration was a powerful and moving spectacle. The presence of the London-based cultural group served as a poignant reminder of the importance of heritage, Whakapapa (genealogy), and family. It reinforced the notion that no matter how far one travels from their ancestral shores, cultural identity remains an anchor. The synergy between the band and the cultural club left few dry eyes in the house, resonating deeply with the expatriate community and setting a powerful template for the band’s upcoming performances in Hawaii and beyond.
Supporting Context & Metrics: Sound, Spectacle, and Statistics
Genre-Defying Musicality
To pigeonhole SIX60 into a single genre is to overlook the intricate craftsmanship of their catalog. Throughout the evening, the band demonstrated a fluid mastery across multiple musical traditions. Tracks like Someone To Be Around highlighted their signature upbeat/downbeat reggae strumming patterns, driven by tight rhythmic foundations and Walters’ sharp lyricism.
Conversely, moments like Right Here Right Now shifted the dynamic entirely. By pulling back the tempo, the band allowed the emotionally charged audience a moment to catch their breath, bask in the communal atmosphere, and reflect on the surreal nature of having a definitive piece of New Zealand culture soundtracking their Wednesday night in central London.
Behind the scenes, the musical architecture was anchored by a stellar rhythm section. Bassist Chris Mac held down the low end with a steady hand—and a glass that remained perpetually full throughout the evening, mirroring the celebratory mood of the crowd. Guitar solos cut through the venue’s acoustics with crystal-clear precision, proving that the band’s live execution matches, if not exceeds, their multi-platinum studio recordings.
Key Milestones and Metrics
- Geographical Span: Approximately 11,860 miles separate Dunedin, New Zealand, from London, United Kingdom.
- Historical Significance: SIX60 stands as just the third New Zealand band in history to headline the Royal Albert Hall, joining elite company alongside Crowded House and The Finn Brothers.
- Special Guest Presence: The audience featured prominent figures from the sporting world, including Black Ferns star Ruby Tui.
- Cultural Partnership: On-stage collaboration featured members of the Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club.
- Setlist Highlights: Ranging from early career staples to cuts from their contemporary catalog, including We Made It, Don’t Forget Your Roots, Someone To Be Around, Right Here Right Now, Up There, Ghosts, and White Lines.
Official Statements and Cultural Impact
While formal corporate press releases often fail to capture the raw sentiment of live music, the cultural weight of the evening was eloquently captured by reviewers and attendees alike. In his post-show review, music journalist and photographer Ieuan Holland noted the striking juxtaposition of the grand venue and the down-to-earth atmosphere:
"Approximately 11,860 miles away from their roots, SIX60 made The Royal Albert Hall feel like a garage in Dunedin… With the historical venue packed to the rafters, it was a special night seeing the multi-platinum Kiwi band play their biggest UK show to date, and boy, did they put on a show."
Cultural advocates have similarly praised the group’s ability to maintain their Indigenous and national identity while scaling international heights. By platforming traditional Māori arts on one of the world’s most prestigious stages, SIX60 continues to redefine what international success looks like for South Pacific artists—balancing commercial dominance with cultural stewardship.
Future Outlook: The Road Ahead for 2026 and Beyond
With their monumental London performance successfully written into the history books, SIX60 shows no signs of slowing down. The Don’t Forget Your Roots world tour presses onward, with an ambitious slate of international dates scheduled for the remainder of 2026.
Upcoming routing will take the multi-platinum outfit across the Pacific, with highly anticipated stops in Hawaii, the broader United States, Asia, and select European markets. Given the fervent reception they received at the Royal Albert Hall—and the universal resonance of their cross-cultural messaging—demand for remaining tickets is exceptionally high.
For British fans left wanting more, the lingering question is not if SIX60 will return to the UK, but when. Until then, the memory of an October night in London—where a legendary concert hall briefly felt like a garage at the bottom of the world—will endure as a high-water mark for contemporary New Zealand music on the global stage.
Remaining tour dates and ticket information can be accessed via official ticketing outlets, including Ticketmaster UK.
