Gig Review: Bic Runga @ BNZ Theatre, Hamilton – 21/03/2026

Bic Runga took to the stage on Saturday, launching the start of her Red Sunset tour. Hamilton’s new BNZ Theatre was the host for the occasion and did not disappoint. The crowd was buzzing as the opening act Silicon hit the stage, led by former Mint Chicks member Kody Nielson, and with Bic on drums it was a beautiful start to the night, captivating the audience. Nielson’s musicianship shone through, and Bic Runga on drums proved just how vast her musical talents are.

After a short interval, Bic came to the stage and put on a beautiful performance. She played lots of songs from her latest album Red Sunset, opening with Glass Atrium, a vibey song that demanded the audience’s attention, followed by Paris In The Rain, an absolutely beautiful track that really showcases the range in Runga’s voice. The visuals behind her were gorgeous, the stage draped in white sheets with scenes from nature projected across them. This was followed by the timeless and beautiful songs Precious Things and Get Some Sleep. By the time Get Some Sleep came on, the audience was all in and hanging off Bic’s every word; it was an energetic and enthused performance of Bic’s 2002 hit. This was followed by It’s Like Summertime, one of the new singles from Bic’s latest album, which feels like it could slip flawlessly into any time period of Bic’s career.

A personal highlight was Escape From Planet Earth, another tune from her new record – you can’t help but think Bic had a bit of Bowie on her shelves growing up, and it is definitely a song I think Bowie would have been proud to have written. Throughout the show Bic was flawless, her iconic vocals flooding the terraces of the new theatre. Red Sunset, the title track of the album, was received well and has a great groove and energy to it, followed by Something Good, which was met with a collective awe of admiration – you could hear the crowd singing and coming together.

For me, the highlight of the evening was when Bic took to the stage with just her guitar and a spotlight, singing Drive. There was something elegant and endlessly beautiful about it – you were brought into Bic’s world and orbit. It felt like it was sung with every bit as much emotion as when she released it in 1997; every word was powerful and emotional. I looked around me in the audience during this time and noticed a few people were crying – it was a truly touching moment.

After this, she left the stage and the Hamilton crowd demanded an encore. She came back out and played an energetic version of Sway to the delight of everyone in the audience. Everything about the show was brilliant – it was a perfect balance of iconic hits with the beautiful songs from the new album Red Sunset. Seeing the new songs was a real pleasure; you could see Bic and the band were having a blast and enjoying playing new music. Red Sunset has quickly become one of my top albums of 2026. If you get a chance, make sure you check out Bic on this tour – you will not be disappointed. Well done Bic and everyone involved.