Homegrown to Hamilton, definitely maybe, promoters say

Tuesday, 18 March 2025

Jon Toogood from Shihad on the Rock Stage at the last Wellington Homegrown.

Hamilton’s in the running to host the Homegrown music festival, but first it has to see off rivals New Plymouth, Rotorua and Dunedin.

In the wake of the last Homegrown to be staged at Wellington’s waterfront, festival organiser Andrew Tuck told the Waikato Times that moving the event to Hamilton, or somewhere else within Waikato, is “definitely possible”.

“Hamilton has been in touch,” he said, something confirmed by Hamilton City Council Deputy Chief Executive Sean Murray.

Devilskin bassist Paul Martin, left, said Hamilton’s Mystery Creek would be the perfect location for Homegrown.

“Yes, the Homegrown promoters have been in contact with us, however we are aware that they have also approached a number of other potential host cities around New Zealand,” he said.

As to whether Hamilton would welcome the festival, Murray was crystal clear.

“Given the opportunity, we would welcome the Homegrown music festival to Hamilton with open arms.”

Tuck said they are eyeing five or six cities across New Zealand for the festival, including Hamilton, “a few places in the mighty Waikato”, as well as Dunedin, New Plymouth and Rotorua.

He said simply that they had outgrown Wellington’s waterfront location.

“We need a little bit more space. . . also we’re looking at what the city has in the city.”

He said they were running the ruler over locations for transport infrastructure, accommodation and “the direction of the city”.

He said that last criteria was especially important as they were looking for a new home for the festival for at least five years.

Andrew Tuck, managing director of Homegrown Events, said Hamilton was one of a number of locations being considered for the festival.

Either way, music fans won’t have to wait long to find out the location for Homegrown 2026, Tuck said the new venue would be announced on April 29.

One person already backing Hamilton as the new location is Devilskin bassist, and Hamiltonian, Paul Martin.

“My band performed at Meatstock for the first time at Mystery Creek,” he said.

“The perfect spot for Homegrown.”

Martin said the location was close to the airport, accommodation, transport links and boasts “heaps of space”.

“It’s set up for big events, that would be perfect,” he said.

“Put Hamilton on the map a bit more in terms of music.”

He said they had performed at Homegrown before and “love it down there”, but that if an alternative location is needed, Mystery Creek would be “the next best place”.

He also said that personally, being able to perform for a Hamilton audience “would mean the world”.