Gig Review: Amped Up @ Brewtown, Upper Hutt – 24/10/2026

Brewtown in Upper Hutt was the place to be on Saturday, 24 October, as Amped Up 2026 brought together six of Aotearoa’s most formidable rock and metal acts for an afternoon and evening of heavy riffs and high-energy performances. Featuring The Boondocks, Written By Wolves, Head Like a Hole, Tadpole, Villainy and headliners Devilskin, the event offered an impressive cross-section of New Zealand rock legends and modern heavyweights. Following last year’s event (which featured Blindspott as headliners, alongside Devilskin and Shepherds Reign), this year’s edition saw Devilskin take the headline spot after winning the People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards. Brewtown proved an excellent venue once again for the occasion. The undercover audience area provided shelter from the unpredictable Wellington weather, while plentiful food and beverage options throughout the site allowed punters to settle in for the six-act experience. The event was super well organised, with a relaxed festival atmosphere that kept the music firmly at the centre of attention.

Opening proceedings were Auckland’s The Boondocks (pictured above), a high-energy duo of Scott Parker on bass and vocals with Branden Pritchard on drums. The pair have built a reputation for producing a substantial rock sound with just two musicians, sounding similar to Royal Blood. Their set included Black Taxi, Bear With Me and Hell of a Time, showcasing their riff-driven, punchy delivery. Parker’s bass provided the low-end muscle as Pritchard drove things forward behind the kit. The Boondocks made an effective start to the afternoon, demonstrating that a big rock sound doesn’t necessarily require a big line-up. The courtyard was still filling as they ended their set and I felt a little sympathetic to those who missed this up-and-coming duo.

Written By Wolves introduced a more contemporary, cinematic sound, combining guitars, electronic textures and soaring vocals. The Auckland four-piece has developed a distinctive style that sits between alternative metal and anthemic rock. Opening with an atmospheric intro before launching into Give ’Em Hell, the band worked through a set that included Misery, Elastic Heart, Not Afraid To Die (the first single they released), Genius, End of Beginning, Goddess, Burn as well as a cover of Linkin Park’s Papercut. Their music relies on contrasting dynamics between sections, transforming between moody electronic passages and explosive rock sections. Michael Murphy’s vocals provide an emotional centre, while the band’s arrangements give the songs a somewhat cinematic feel. With international collaborations and an impressive global streaming audience behind them, Written By Wolves demonstrated why they have become one of NZ’s most prominent modern rock exports. This act was probably my favourite on the day, but the space was still filling for the afternoon…

Wellington legends Head Like a Hole brought a healthy dose of swagger-rock to Brewtown. Emerging in the early 1990’s, the band established its reputation through bluesy riffs, edgy humour and notoriously outrageous live performances. Featuring vocalist Nigel ‘Booga’ Beazley alongside Nigel Regan and Andrew Ashton on guitars, Simon Nicholls on bass and Michael Franklin-Browne on drums, the band revisited some of its best-known material. Fish Across Face (a fan favourite), Comfortably Shagged, Cornbag, Never Mind Today and Hootenanny represented the group’s irreverent approach to songwriting. Their music remains rooted in the raw, unconventional spirit that helped define New Zealand’s alternative rock scene, providing a welcome reminder of the band’s enduring place in local music history. A Crying Shame, with the iconic trumpet introduction played by Amanda Knight, also proved to be a crowd favourite.

Tadpole’s return to the stage in 2024 has reignited interest in one of New Zealand’s most successful alternative rock acts of the early 2000’s. With Lauren Marshall on vocals alongside original members Chris Yong on guitar and Dean Lawton on drums, along with DJ Kritikl, plus guest musician Marika Hodgson on bass, the reunited band brought fresh energy to its established catalogue. Their set included Better Days, Set to Fade, Nothing to Lose, the Headless Chickens’ George, Backdoor, What If, For Me, Falling Into You, Blind and Nothing New. A cover of Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer added a familiar singalong moment before the finale, Alright, (possibly their best known tune) provided a fitting closing highlight. It was also a welcome surprise to hear that the band is currently working on a new album. The performance balanced nostalgia with the band’s newer songs. Marshall’s arrival gives Tadpole a new vocal dimension, while their combination of heavy, often funky, grooves and electronic elements remains distinctive.

Auckland four-piece Villainy brought a powerful dose of sleek, modern alternative-rock to their slot. With more than a decade of experience behind them, the band has built its reputation on dynamic songwriting and memorable hooks, delivered with polished production both in the studio and on the stage. Their set featured Raised in the Dark, Safe Passage, Demons, Beggar, No Future, Dreams and Miles Away, the latter having spent eight consecutive weeks at number one on the New Zealand Rock Radio Chart in 2024. Tiny Little Island had the audience singing along, and was followed by Another Time, Alligator Skin and Happy Waste before IFXS rounded out the set. Villainy’s power relies on its balance of heaviness and melody. Neill Fraser’s vocals sit within a muscular arrangement driven by Thom Watts’ guitar, James Dylan’s bass and Dave Johnston’s drums. Rather than relying solely on volume, the band uses dynamics well and strong songwriting to create maximum impact. With new material from their upcoming album, Villainy offered a convincing reminder of their continuing relevance in Aotearoa’s rock landscape.

The evening’s headline performance belonged to Hamilton heavyweights Devilskin. Featuring Jennie Skulander on vocals, Nail on guitar, Paul Martin on bass and Nic Martin on drums, the band has become one of New Zealand’s most recognisable heavy rock acts. Opening with Limbs, Devilskin powered through Mountains, Pray, Believe in Me and Half-Life of Dreams, followed by Grave, All Fall Down, In Black and Corrode. Swelter, Little Pills and Animal continued the assault before a cover of Heart’s Barracuda added a classic hard-rock moment. Skulander remains a major asset to the band. Although she mentioned she was a little under the weather, she performed brilliantly and the crowd let her know. Nail’s searing guitar work and the formidable rhythm section of Paul and Nic Martin provide the heavy intensity that has defined Devilskin’s thick sound. A drum solo from Nic, and the Elvis Presley Circle Pit moment injected some theatricality into the set before their earlier hits We Rise and Start a Revolution brought the headline performance towards its conclusion. Devilskin’s combination of heavy instrumentation and commanding vocals explains their enduring popularity. Following their People’s Choice Award win, their headline position felt very well deserved, with the band delivering a performance that reinforced its standing within the metal scene.

Amped Up 2026 delivered a well-organised celebration of Aotearoa’s rock and metal community. The Boondocks brought raw riff-rock, Written By Wolves supplied cinematic modern heaviness, Head Like a Hole revisited alternative rock history, Tadpole connected their celebrated past with a revitalised future, Villainy delivered contemporary melodic power, and Devilskin closed the night with a commanding headline set.

Although the line-up was not as diverse in genre as other festivals (despite Tadpole being arguably nu metal) the event never felt musically one-dimensional with each act having a different sound. Mix-wise, the bass was prominent as were the vocals. Brewtown’s undercover space, food vendors and plentiful beverage options made it a comfortable place to spend the day. Ultimately the night demonstrated the continuing strength of New Zealand rock. Brewtown delivered a compelling showcase, finishing on a high with Devilskin at the helm. Six bands, one stage and a full day of heavy music.

Photo Credit: Andy Russell for Muzic.NZ
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