When the Foo Fighters touched down in New Zealand on their last tour, the result was part rock show, part glorious chaos.
At Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium in 2024, the band pulled out an impromptu cover of “Big Balls” by AC/DC, complete with a surprise cameo from Jack Black — turning the night into the kind of loose, unpredictable spectacle that has long defined a Foo Fighters stadium run.
They’ll be back in Aotearoa for their at the end of this year, with two massive shows locked in for Christchurch and Auckland between the Adelaide and Perth stops of their upcoming ‘Take Cover’ tour — dates that were first teased by Dave Grohl during the band’s one-off Tasmanian appearance in January.
This time around, the spotlight won’t just be on the headliners. A handpicked crop of local bands — DARTZ, SEEK HELP!, and Auckland outfits Dick Move and Ringlets — will join the bill, turning the shows into a celebration of the country’s own thriving rock scene.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ takes a closer look at the bands who will be sharing the stage with the evergreen US rockers later this year.
DARTZ (Póneke Wellington)
Melbourne-based punks DARTZ have built their reputation the old-fashioned way: loud shows, sharp wit, and songs that feel tailor-made for a sweaty room full of shouting fans.
Often dubbed Aotearoa’s answer to The Chats, the band’s scrappy pub-punk anthems come packed with humour, storytelling, and a knack for turning everyday Kiwi life into rallying cries.
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Their second album Dangerous Day to Be a Cold One cemented that status, earning a four-star review from Rolling Stone AU/NZ, a shortlist spot for the Taite Music Prize, and a nomination for Best Group at the Aotearoa Music Awards.
Now they’re gearing up to open for the Foo Fighters in Christchurch — though the band are clearly plotting a little extra chaos around the occasion.
“Up the dartz 2027,” they told us ahead of the show. “Currently scheming how many tiny South Island pub shows we can fit either side of the gig!”
SEEK HELP! (Ōtepoti Dunedin)
Emerging from the famously fertile underground of Dunedin, SEEK HELP! are one of the most uncompromising young punk bands currently coming out of the country.
The feminist four-piece first turned heads when they reached the national finals of the Smokefreerockquest in 2025, delivering a blistering set that announced them as a fierce new voice in the country’s youth music scene.
Their debut single “Apex Predator” pulls no punches, channeling riot-grrrl rage into a searing protest against misogyny and predatory behaviour. Raw, political and already gaining attention well beyond their hometown, the band’s ferocious style and growing reputation led us to compare them to Dick Move — a connection that may have helped land them on the Foo Fighters bill.
“Seeing a young riot-grrrl band that was compared to a group Dave Grohl personally likes probably helped,” the band told RNZ of the opportunity. “That’s how we reckon we got the show.”
Dick Move (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)
Dick Move have built a reputation for turning blunt-force political commentary into irresistibly punchy punk rock. Led by vocalist Lucy Suttor, the band’s songs tackle everything from misogyny to collective action with the same unfiltered energy that’s made them one of Aotearoa’s most vital underground acts.
Their 2025 album Dream, Believe, Achieve — released via Flying Nun Records — packs 13 bursts of riotous energy into just 25 minutes, pairing furious guitars with lyrics that champion people-power, unity, and calling out shitty behaviour.
The band already know what it’s like to warm up a stadium crowd for the Foo Fighters, previously using the opportunity to shout their politics to thousands of unsuspecting rock fans.
Now they’re back for another round in Auckland. “We feel incredibly lucky to be joining the Foo Fighters for a second tour, this time at Western Springs Stadium,” the band say. “We’re slightly less nervous and are looking forward to the catering.”
Ringlets (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)
Auckland quartet Ringlets have quietly become one of the most compelling post-punk bands to emerge from Aotearoa in recent years.
Their second album The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) earned a four-star review from Rolling Stone AU/NZ, confirming the promise first shown on their 2023 self-titled debut and showcasing a sound that blends bright, wiry guitars, crisp rhythms, and a theatrical sense of humour.
Drawing on the lineage of early-2000s revivalists like Interpol and Bloc Party, Ringlets keep their songs lean and purposeful while leaving space for the playful strangeness that defines their music.
The band will bring that artful energy to Auckland’s Western Springs Stadium when they open for the Foo Fighters. “Playing with the Foo Fighters is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the band say. “Dave, don’t worry mate — you’ll be getting the best of us.”
