New Year’s chance for community get-together

Published: 9 December 2024

Community coming together to welcome the New Year is a fixture of Napier’s events calendar.

This year the annual extravaganza showcases local talent and the best cover band in New Zealand all centred at Napier’s iconic Soundshell on Marine Parade.

Kevin Murphy, Napier City Council Events Manager says it’s a highlight of the year bringing together the New Year’s Eve event.

“We have a lot of events in Napier through the year, we are a city made to host a party and we do it really well, but there is something extra special about New Year’s because it’s symbolic for lots of people and there’s a responsibility to show them a good time,” says Kevin. “A good New Year’s sends the old year off in style and sets up the new year to be a banger!”

Headlining this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration is Hands Off, one of New Zealand’s most loved covers bands.

“Hands Off knows how to bring the party,” says Kevin. “They’ve been gigging for 25 years, and they’ve been recognised for their stellar performances. They’ll be joined by an incredible line-up that we’re really proud to be bringing to the Soundshell.”

Hands Off won the Variety Artists Club of NZ Showcase Award in 2022. New Zealand-based, their talent has taken them to Australia, Fiji, and Thailand.

Joining the lineup is:

Phil Edwards Band, moving audiences with honest and soulful music since their inception in 2009 with brand new music releases on the horizon for 2025.

El’ Goobers, a five-piece Hawke’s Bay rock band with endless energy and stage presence.

Danica Bryant Band, a pop-folk powerhouse with a raw rock edge, hailing from Napier but now gracing stages all over Wellington.

Back to News Archive