Dunedin’s stadium concert drought set to break with Chase & Status announcement
Dunedin’s long wait for another major international stadium concert is set to end, with international acts Chase & Status and Bryan Adams confirmed for shows next year.
The British drum and bass duo will bring their full live production to Forsyth Barr Stadium on March 5, 2027, while Adams will perform his acoustic Bare Bones show at Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday, March 13.
The announcements offer a welcome lift for the city’s concert calendar.
Pink’s March 2024 performance was the stadium’s last major international concert, meaning the bookings for next year come after a three-year gap.
Chase & Statusare the first major headline act announced under new Dunedin Venues chief executive Phil King, who said the booking was an indication of what was to come.
“When I said I believed a golden age of events was coming to Forsyth Barr Stadium, this is exactly what I meant.”
Announcing the act in Dunedin this morning, King said: “I think there’s no better town to host an event like this, with the university students right on the doorstep.”
The Brit Award-winning duo, whose songs include the Stormzy collaboration Backbone, will play their first New Zealand stadium show.
Dunedin Venues is billing it as their biggest concert in the country.
On the other hand, Adams’ appearance will be decidedly more low-key.
His Bare Bones show draws on more than four decades of songs, including Summer of ’69, Run to You, Heaven and (Everything I Do) I Do It for You.
“Two very different shows, two world-class artists, one month,” King said.
“Whether you’re in the stadium for Chase & Status or in the Town Hall for an unforgettable night with Bryan Adams, March 2027 is shaping up as a massive month for live music in Dunedin, and for our local economy, which greatly benefits when fans come to town.”
The stadium’s sparse concert calendar has prompted efforts to broaden the range of acts it can accommodate.
The Herald reported in March on plans for retractable curtains to accommodate smaller audiences at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The proposed capacity-reduction system would allow configurations ranging from a 3000- to 5000-person mini-arena through to larger events.
Dunedin Venues said the aim was to fill a gap between the Town Hall and a full stadium, making the venue more practical for acts drawing mid-sized crowds.
The booking also follows a 10-year partnership between Dunedin Venues and Ticketek announced in March.
Ticketek Entertainment Group chief executive Cameron Hoy said the show reflected the intent of that agreement.
“When TEG and Ticketek locked in our 10-year partnership with Dunedin Venues in March, this is exactly what we had in mind: bringing major international acts to Forsyth Barr Stadium for fans across the South.”
Handsome Tours had secured the act, while King and Dunedin Venues had provided the venue, Hoy said.
“There’s plenty more to come for Dunedin.”
King said about 60% of stadium crowds travelled from outside Dunedin, and he expected the show to draw fans from across the South Island and farther afield.
Mayor Sophie Barker said visiting concertgoers would benefit accommodation providers, hospitality businesses and retailers.
“An event of this scale brings thousands of visitors into our city, and with them comes a real economic boost for our hotels, restaurants, bars, retailers and local businesses.”
The Chase & Status tour, which also includes Hamilton, is supported by the Government’s one-off Events Attraction Package.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said the funding was intended to attract visitors and support regional businesses.
Frontier Touring chief executive Dion Brant said the Town Hall suited Adams’ stripped-back performance.
“Bare Bones is all about intimacy and connection, and the Dunedin Town Hall is the perfect room for it – audiences are in for something truly special.”
Ben Tomsett is a journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.