Teddy Swims – Spark Arena: October 9, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
TEDDY SWIMS made a glittering return to Spark Arena for a truly scintillating gig, only 15 months after his last visit.
The second instalment of his I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy tour built on his previous visit to delight a capacity crowd. Carin Newbould was there to report back for The 13th Floor, with Den O’Keeffe photographing the big man.
TEDDY SWIMS dazzled and delighted fans last night, with another accomplished and practically perfect programme encompassing hits and new material, only 15 months after his last visit to Aotearoa.
Sadly I missed the support act, young Auckland-based four piece indie rockers Borderline, although my fellow concert goers enthused about their performance… I’ll catch them on a future date.
Swims came to the stage at 9pm on the dot – rather late for a midweek Arena-going audience, many of whom appeared to have been drinking their way toward curtain up. Actually, it was more curtain down – a dramatic drop to reveal a red-draped, sophisticated set with a lit podium and curved ramp, more reminiscent of a 1930s nightclub than a contemporary rock stage.
Swims (or Jaten Dimsdale, to give him his real name) might have the voice of a soul legend or sensitive crooner, but he’s a huge man, as well as a huge star, with his presence dominating the stage from the get-go.
Pyrotechnics accompanied his entrance, kicking off a massive setlist of 26 songs banged out in just short of 2 hours on stage. Nobody could say they didn’t get their money’s worth – Teddy and his fabulous band Freak Freely delivered in shovel-loads. There was energy, emotion and empathy – Swims showed genuine concern for the somewhat bevvied-up crowd, making sure that they were looking out for one another and halting proceedings a couple of times to calm down those in the mosh-pit. He’s clearly a nice guy, with a tender smile and a genuine manner.
Swims also displayed an amazing ability to sign autographs, pose for photos and read the signs and banners held aloft in the audience and passed up to him on stage, without missing a beat of his repertoire.
He’s both masterful and natural. He gave away his cap early on, before signing a number of Stetsons passed from the crowd. Dressed way more casually than at last weekend’s NRL final (when he provided the opening entertainment, dressed in a flamboyant studded kilt), Teddy was garbed in trackie bottoms, a white shirt and a proudly displayed Pounamu – presumably a gift bestowed from the Christchurch gig earlier in the week, or from last year’s trip to these shores.
Later in the programme he changed into flowing black robes, strangely reminiscent of Steve Nicks or Kate Bush, before finishing the night in a somewhat incongruous flasher mac. Hey, whatever he wore, it worked – the crowd couldn’t get enough of him and his 7 piece band.
Just like last year, Teddy’s honesty and openness were a defining feature of the gig, appreciated by the audience almost as much as the repertoire. He teared up and was visibly emotional during Small Hands, accompanied only by his guitarist. It’s a song written about his three-month old son, who had flown out to meet him – Auckland being the baby’s “first stamp in the passport”. He spoke at some length about becoming a Dad – “truly the best thing I’ve ever done… he’s changed my world”.
There’s no doubt that I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy is, in fact, therapeutic – not only for fans, taking strength from lyrics discussing overcoming heartache and difficulties, but for Swims himself – he encouraged us to follow his lead and “find closure within” and hoped that people would be creative – “share your truth, share your story”. It sounds a bit Oprah, but it was all quite uplifting, beautiful and sincere.
What’s fascinating about Teddy Swims’ repertoire is the range, from mellow and melodic to soulful swing, to country fuelled rock. It’s impossible to categorise. There’s humour (Free Drugs), pathos (Some Things I’ll Never Know) and intimacy (All That Really Matters). He covered Six60’s Rivers with nuance and Shania Twain’s Still The One with affection – and enthusiastic singalong support from the diverse crowd.
Swims kept us waiting for 90 minutes before delivering his biggest hit, Lose Control, after which he returned for an encore of three powerhouse tracks, Bed on Fire, Goodbye’s Been Good to You and the incredibly catchy, The Door – performed with just as much energy as he’d started the show with, two hours earlier. The crowd swam and floated out of the arena on a high, into the midweek Auckland night.
I hope Teddy Swims comes back again next year, to provide an annual dose of therapy cunningly disguised as an unforgettable gig. He lifts the spirits, inspires, entertains and brings people together. Last night was heartfelt, soulful and spectacular. What Can I Say? except Teddy Swims – we Need You More.
Carin Newbould
Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Den:
Teddy Swims:
Borderline:
SETLIST
1. Not Your Man
2. Hammer to the Heart
3. Apple Juice
4. She Loves the Rain
5. Are You Even Real
6. Devil in a Dress
7. Bad Dreams
8. Free Drugs
9. Funeral
10. What More Can I Say
11. 911
12. Need You More
13. Black & White
14. Small Hands
15. All That Really Matters (ILLENIUM cover)
16. Some Things I'll Never Know
17. Northern Lights
18. Rivers (Six60 cover)
19. Guilty
20. God Went Crazy
21. You're Still the One (Shania Twain cover)
22. Your Kind of Crazy
23. Lose Control
24. Bed on Fire
25. Goodbye's Been Good to You
26. The Door
