Gig Review: Lou’ana @ OneOneSix, Whangārei – 13/03/2026

Lou’ana opened the night with My World while emerging from a dark stage as the lights slowly reveal a full band. Dazzlingly dressed and smiling, Lou’ana brought energy right from the very start of this intimate gig.

Having seen the band’s truck parked outside and seeing the lights filling the stage, Whangārei was in for a rare treat this evening. The smoke-filled hall with great wooden floor acoustics suited the six-piece band and Lou’ana’s voice well. Bass and drums sat on one side, with keys, guitar, and strings covering the other. OneOneSix was set up tonight with the band filling the space at a dance floor level, to give this an intimate and close feel.

Going into the next song, Disco Coven, she locks us into the disco groove. It was easy to find feelings to familiar tunes in the music, but Lou’ana makes sure the original songs have her personal signature on them. The band really got going and it is something I haven’t seen in a disco show before. Live drums and clear strings instead of pre-recorded music are what made this gig so much more special. The small crowd soon starts swinging to the contagious disco beat.

Just like the first two songs, the next one on the set list continues the cinematic feel. Aphrodite had organ sounds and some higher snapping drums and shows us all different ways the band approaches nu-disco. More of the lights come on and we get a better glimpse of this evening’s performance. The smoke continues to fill the room as Lou’ana moves to a song from her previous album Moonlight Madness.

Move Along is announced as the warmed-up crowd gets a clear view of this Friday the 13th disco witch treat. The disco beat is unmistakable, but the song also has a soul feel. With more than 2 million plays on Spotify this is the song that wakes the dancing humans up.

Lou’ana is performing next to a small altar-like table; on it, a candle-lit deck of oracle cards will mean some audience participation will determine the style order of the next song. The disco-witch shuffles the cards and as willing punters choose the cards the order of the next song is locked in. The first card was ‘voice’. Deep, very clear lyrics echo through the hall. It is amazing to hear her voice alone as an instrument. Drums are the next to start and different strings follow to fully form the Moonlight Madness title song.

The band is clearly having fun. Rolling fast into Night Creatures. The light show finally filled the venue. The stage, however, stays on the dark side as deep purples make way for brighter golden glows, letting night and moon mix as the stage stays in a dark but lovely disco feel.

On the album Gravitate has a deep bassline and almost electro-sounding edge. As the first third of her setlist showed us what the band as a group can give us it’s nice to hear this song in its pure form. The electro feel is adjusted slightly by the band, and the song now has a true disco feel. Natural vocals fill the space perfectly.

After Summer in May a great round of applause sets up for a small conversation with the audience. Keen to hear who in the audience has listened to the albums and singles or even has one on the old plastic CD or gorgeous pink vinyl, some of the shyness falls away during this small interval.

Heartbeat was released just a month before the full album got released. Having a familiar guitar part on the record makes you want to move. As colourful lights filled the room, all that was needed to relive the 60’s and 80’s sound was a coloured square dance floor. More guitar solos followed in Feel This which keeps the set fresh and definitely in a nu-disco era.

If you follow her socials Disco Heart will feel familiar. The album version adds some brass instruments to the sound. This was very well replicated live with the full band. The long rolling vocals echo in the space as most of her band joins in, with warm background vocals.

One song flowed into another. There was no dull time during the set. Rosebery Avenue, Lost & Found, and Love Blind let you enjoy this disco experience. Lou’ana has a little distraction going on with the headset but never misses a beat or a lyric. As the audience came in closer to the band the dancing is sure not to be stopped by this small technicality.

When she announced the album title track, Disco Witch, it got the right response from the audience. It shows there have been some humans buying and streaming this album. Wailing long and clean vocals let the lights explode and set the disco witch free. Followed by the closer, Supernova, the full album release gig comes to a dancing end. Letting the band enjoy the longer, improv version of this best disco-dance song, the set closes. First one of a long list of gigs on her tour done!

As the applause rolls away, she closes this intimate gig by joining the crowd to receive compliments for giving Whangārei a disco night they will remember. Maybe Lou’ana was a little relieved that the performance did make us all dance, and now having an idea of what the tour will bring to other venues. The band’s smiles were real.

With Eric Scholes on bass, Windon Bradfield on guitar, Cameron Taylor on keys and backup vocals, Jono Sawyer on drums and also backup vocals, Marika Balzat and Nick Jones on strings, it was sure a great night not to miss. Fibre on lighting and Rory Drew on sound gave a true nu-disco experience.

Lou’ana’s tour is just kicking off, with dates remaining in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. Be sure to head along, and get to know New Zealand’s own disco queen. You can expect to be amazed by Lou’ana’s clear vocals, the energising full band, and dazzling light show. You will be dancing all night without stopping, and as the gig ends, be assured the disco beat will follow you home.

Photo Credit: Coen Cramer for Muzic.NZ
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