03/08/2025

Biggest Pub Gig In The World – Spark Arena: August 2, 2025

Five years after the first “Biggest Pub Gig In The World” comes version 2 featuring Kiwi pub faves Dragon, Goodshirt, Stellar*, Fur Patrol and Th’ Dudes.

Guinness World Records aside, this was an evening just made to warm the cockles of any good Kiwi rocker’s heart.

The folks at Eccles Entertainment teamed up with the classic rockers at The Sound FM to put together a night that both fans and bands would long remember.

When the doors opened at 5:30pm, fans found the Spark Arena decked out with the good folks from The White Lady slinging burgers and fries, while beer was on tap and The Sound DJs cranked out hits by ZZ Top and Midnight Oil.

Goodshirt:

First up was Goodshirt…the original band…formed in 2000…that’s 25 years ago..is looking and sounding great.

“We used to play in an Irish pub band”, notes Gareth as he surveys the scene. Their 30 minute set was over way too soon, but this show needed to stay on schedule, and it did.

Here are The 13h Floor’s Chriz Zwaagdyk’s photos of the Goodshirt set:

Fur Patrol

Julia Deans and Fur Patrol rocked the house shortly after 7. Always in incredible voice, Julia was in prime rock chick mode and songs like Lydia and Andrew and anyone else you could name struck a chord with the crowd, who were already getting a little “loose”, as jugs of beer were being “seen to”. Again…here are Chris Z’s photos:

Stellar*

How does Boh Runga not age at all, I was asked? Both Boh and Stellar’s songs sound as vital now as they did…dare I say it…30 years ago. They’ve mixed Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony into their set but Part Of Me and Violent still take the cake. Here are Chris’ photos:

Dragon:

Like everyone on and off stage, the folks in Dragon look like they are having the time of their lives. Formed in Auckland in 1972, Dragon is now led by Mark Williams who pays tribute to Marc Hunter with solid versions of Rain, Are You Old Enough and, yes, April Sun In Cuba. Here again is Chris Z’s photos:

Th’ Dudes

Despite their appearance at the previous Biggest Pub Gig being billed as “their last ever”…The’ Dudes are back, but without Dave Dobbyn. Peter Urlich picks up the slack and Rikki Morris is there to sing for Dave. And as a special surprise NZ guitar slinger (and Mocker) Brett Adams adds some spice to the set with his stinging solos. Yes, they sing Bliss and then they close the night with a tip o’ the hat to Hello Sailor with a version of Blue Lady.

Not a dry eye in the house…and the floor was sticky with beer as well…any any great pub gig would end.

Marty Duda

Here are Th’ Dudes courtesy of Chris Z: