The last time Foo Fighters took to the stage in Aotearoa was at Auckland鈥檚 Mt Smart Stadium in 2018, it was pouring with rain,听and the late Taylor Hawkins got two drum solos.听
Now the 15-time Grammy-winning band are听mere hours away from touching down in New Zealand听without their beloved drummer for the first time. It鈥檚 bittersweet but welcome news for long-time Kiwi fans who have waited six years to see them perform live again.听
Following a run of successful shows in Australia - including an听almightily powerful rock sermon in Melbourne, the band will play in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington this January, with the first show taking place on Saturday, January 20, with听their new drummer Josh Freese.听
If you鈥檙e yet to secure tickets, it鈥檚 not too late. All three shows still have tickets available through听Ticketmaster.听
Here鈥檚 everything you need to know ahead of the shows:听
When does it start?听
Auckland:听For all the Foo lovers heading along to the show at Auckland鈥檚 Go Media Mt Smart Stadium on January 20, gates open at 4.30pm so you can get in, get settled and get ready for a night of rock.听
The show is scheduled to start at 5.30pm with support acts Dick Move and The Breeders each playing a set before the Foo Fighters come on.听
The Foo Fighters will play three shows in New Zealand. Photo / Brett Schewitz听
Christchurch:听If you鈥檙e heading along to Orangetheory Stadium on January 24 for the highly anticipated show, gates open at 4pm with the show set to start slightly earlier than Auckland at 5pm.听
After the support acts play, the Grammy winners will take the stage.听
Wellington:听For those going to the band鈥檚 last, but certainly not least, New Zealand show at Wellington鈥檚 Sky Stadium on January 27, doors open at 4.15pm with the show starting at 5.30pm.听
Parking and transport听
Auckland听
Drive and park:听Unfortunately for those wanting to drive, there is no official car park at the Go Media Mt Smart Stadium and there will be听听around the area so it may be easier to walk, cycle or use public transport for this gig.听
Bus:听Both event and everyday bus services will be running on concert day and are included in your event ticket from 2.15pm until the end of service that day. Simply show your ticket to the driver when boarding, and remember to keep your ticket for the journey home.听
Guitarist Pat Smear on stage with the Foo Fighters at Melbourne's AAMI Park Stadium. Photo / Brett Schewitz听
Train:听All train lines will be running, but Auckland Transport has warned that, for the Southern and Western Lines, buses will replace trains between Waitemat膩 Station (Britomart) and Newmarket.听
For the Eastern Line, there will be buses replacing the trains between Waitemat膩 Station (Britomart) and The Strand. And for the Onehunga Line, buses will replace trains between Penrose and Onehunga from 9.30pm until the end of the day.听
Check听听for more details about parking and transport options.听
Christchurch:听Parking is very limited in and around the stadium, but you can try pre-purchasing a space听. Entry is via Wrights Rd only or try parking at The CDHB Park n Ride at 25 Deans Ave and walk the 25 minutes to the stadium.听
As it stands, there is no update on public transport plans for the concert.听
The band will perform with their new drummer Josh Freese. Photo / Brett Schewitz听
Wellington:听For those heading along to the Wellington show, parking for Sky Stadium is on sale now through听听for the cost of $39 online (credit card fees apply) - it鈥檚 advisable to pre-purchase to make sure you don鈥檛 miss out.听
There are also multiple Wilson carparks close to the venue and some street parking.听
As it stands, there is no update on public transport plans for the concert.听
What to take - and what to leave at home听
Auckland:听While you aren鈥檛 allowed to bring in commercially prepared foods such as takeaways and soft drinks, alcohol or illicit drugs, furniture, chairs or stools or video cameras and recording devices such as drones, iPads, tablets or Go Pros, you are allowed to bring banners, flags and posters, picnic mats and a small bag that can fit under your seat.听
听you can and can鈥檛 bring into Go Media Mt Smart Stadium.听
Christchurch:听Like most stadiums, there are plenty of restrictions around what you can and can鈥檛 bring in, including alcohol, illicit drugs and large bags.听听you can and can鈥檛 bring into Orangetheory Stadium.听
Wellington:听Bags no larger than A4 in size (30cm x 21cm x 21cm) will be permitted for the concert, neither will alcohol or illicit drugs, gang patches and gang paraphernalia and drones and other flying devices.听听you can and can鈥檛 bring into Sky Stadium.听
Weather听
Auckland:听It鈥檚 not looking too bad of a day for Aucklanders heading along to the concert, with MetService predicting a high of 28C, low of 19C and clouds with a chance of showers and some northeasterlies.听
Christchurch:听MetService is currently predicting a high of 17C and low of 9C for the concert day, with rain clearing to partly cloudy weather and northeasterlies - but, as we know, the weather is always changing so check back here for updates.听
Wellington:听It鈥檚 too soon to tell what the weather will be doing on January 27 so check back here closer to the time for details.听
Set list听
An official set list has not yet been released for the show. However, based on their last show as part of the tour, in Brisbane on December 12, it might look a bit like this:听
1. All My Life听
2. No Son of Mine听
3. Rescued听
4. The Pretender听
5. Walk听
6. Times Like These听
7. Generator听
8. La Dee Da听
9. Breakout听
10. Guitar Solo / Sabotage / Keyboard Solo / Blitzkrieg Bop / Whip It / March of the Pigs听
11. My Hero听
12. The Sky Is a Neighborhood听
13. Learn to Fly听
14. Arlandria听
15. Under You听
16. These Days听
17. Statues听
18. Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners听
19. Nothing at All听
20. Big Me听
21. Monkey Wrench听
22. Aurora听
23. This Is a Call听
24. Big Balls (AC/DC cover)听
25. Best of You听
Encore:听
1. The Teacher听
2. Everlong听
听
Lillie Rohan is an Auckland-based reporter covering lifestyle and entertainment stories who joined the听Herald听in 2020. She specialises in all things relationships and dating, Kiwi celebs we can鈥檛 help but love and TV shows you simply cannot miss out on.听
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