What’s left to prove when you’ve dominated radio, sold out stadiums, and filled a trophy case with unprecedented success? For Six60, the answer was simple: get back to basics.
In 2024, the Kiwi music behemoth stripped things back with the ‘Grassroots’ tour, ditching high-production shows for intimate gigs at maraes, small-town pubs, and local venues. It wasn’t just a return to their roots – it was a complete reset.
“The ‘Grassroots’ tour was like going back to when we started,” frontman Matiu Walters tells Rolling Stone AU/NZ. “In stadiums, you lose that connection – you can’t see the faces or feel the crowd’s energy the same way. But these smaller shows? They were really raw and real. You could see the tears, the smiles. It reminded us why we started doing this in the first place.”
Thirteen years in, Six60’s journey has been nothing short of monumental. From their humble flat on Castle Street in Dunedin to becoming a household name in Aotearoa and beyond, they’ve achieved milestones that were once unheard of in New Zealand music. Throughout it all, their sound has only grown louder and more global. But the ‘Grassroots’ tour wasn’t about recreating the past: it was about experimentation and growth, says Walters.
“It was really freeing,” he shares. “We had to read the room and feed off the vibe. It was a looser, more reactive version of us. That’s why it felt so musical – it wasn’t about perfection.”
The intimate setting let the band get creative – swapping instruments, flipping setlists on the fly, and stretching out jams. “When someone yelled out a song, we were nimble enough to play it,” he says. “It was alive. That fluidity affected everything—it was honestly so refreshing.”
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The abrupt departure of drummer and founding member Eli Paewai in February right before the tour presented a challenge, but also an opportunity for reinvention. “In a way, it felt like we were a new band,” Walters says. “It forced us to approach things differently, and it brought an unpredictability to every show. That beginner’s mindset made it really fun.”
With the first ‘Grassroots’ tour in the rearview mirror, Six60 are now gearing up for bigger summer shows across New Zealand and Australia. The challenge? Scaling up while holding onto that raw, unpolished energy. Walters hints at several changes. “We’re bringing in session musicians and adding some production elements – maybe percussion, maybe keys – to give the shows more weight. But we’re aiming to keep that organic and honest feel. The goal is to translate what worked in a room of 500 to a crowd closer to 10,000.”
The tour’s spirit was captured in a live album, but for Walters, life these days is about more than music – it’s about balance. “As I get older, my measuring stick for success has changed,” he admits. “When you’re younger, you read comments and count the numbers of tickets, it’s a little bit of an ego-driven thing. I’m still ambitious, I’ll never lose that part of me, but there’s something about that reaching that doesn’t excite me the same way. Now, I just want to make music that feels real and fulfilling.
“And I want to be there for my family, my kids. Experience life. I seriously don’t want to be the artist that is super rich and has all these things, but has no relationship with their children,” he continues. “That’s probably my biggest fear.”
True to that outlook, Six60 launched a competition to bring international fans back to New Zealand for a “Grassroots Summer”. Walters sees this as a more meaningful alternative to typical flyaway competitions. “It didn’t make sense to me, you know, rewarding this artist for not coming to New Zealand, ” he says. “Wouldn’t it be better to give people the chance to come home… New Zealand’s a hard place to beat in summer. It just sounded beautiful to me, not like, here’s a flight to get out of here.”
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It’s a sentiment that ties back to the band’s enduring focus on whanau – community and connection. Walters recalls an early mentor, artist Michael Parekōwhai, telling the band, “You guys are whanau.” At the time, the words didn’t fully register, but they’ve since become central to Six60’s identity.
“I thought it was BS at the time, to be honest, but it makes more sense now. That’s our nature, you know, it’s part of how I grew up. I love looking out at our shows and seeing generations, races, and people from all walks of life, all feeling like it’s somewhere they can be comfortable together. Because honestly, the world’s a pretty fucked up place at the moment, so if we can provide even a small moment of togetherness I’m happy.”
Six60 aren’t slowing down anytime soon. “We’re chasing honesty,” he says. “That’s what keeps it exciting. And I reckon the best is yet to come.”
SIX60’s ‘Grassroots Tour City Edition’ will see the band perform in eight locations over eight weekends this coming summer. For full dates and ticket information, visit six60.co.nz.
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