The Bats Announce New Zealand Album Tour

Legendary New Zealand band The Bats are hitting the road.

Announced today, The Bats will play shows in Nelson, Blenheim, Hamilton, Auckland, Napier, Paekākāriki, Wellington, Dunedin, and Lyttelton in February and March of next year (see full dates below).

Tickets are on sale now here.

The evergreen band — they’ve had the same lineup of Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward, Paul Kean, and Malcolm Grant  since forming in Christchurch in the early ’80s — are touring in support of their new album, Corner Coming Up.

Recorded with Tex Houston at Chicks Studio in Port Chalmers, their 11th album charted at No. 1 on the IMNZ chart and No. 2 on the Aotearoa Music Charts.

Corner Coming Up features tracks like “Loline”, the band’s first official single since 2020’s Foothills. An accompanying video helmed by Martin Sagadin sees the band cycling through sunny Christchurch. Watch below.

Another standout track, “Lucky Day”, also came accompanied by a memorable music video, this one directed by Marc Swadel (watch here).

Critics were kind to The Bats’ latest release.

“Corner Coming Up is a rich snapshot of where (and whence) The Bats are after more than three decades together. They’re still writing and recording not too far from their roots—perhaps reveling in their longevity—while continuing to step things up live with a smidgeon of punk-rock energy and a firm DIY ethos,” wrote The 13th Floor.

“The Bats, as always make the interesting seem effortless, lightly veiling their depth behind the enticing surfaces,” praised Elsewhere.

The Bats 2026 New Zealand Tour

Presented by Banished Music

Ticket information available here

February 20th
Theatre Royal, Nelson

February 21st
ASB Theatre Marlborough, Blenheim

March 6th
Last Place, Hamilton

March 7th
Hollywood Avondale, Auckland (part of Strange Universe)

March 12th
Paisley Stage, Napier

March 13th
St Peters, Paekākāriki

March 14th
Meow, Wellington

March 20th
Dropkicks, Dunedin

March 21st
The Loons, Lyttelton