Brewtown Goes Big: Summer Meltdown Drops a Monster Kiwi Lineup
Upper Hutt’s Brewtown is turning up the summer heat with the launch of Summer Meltdown on 23 January 2027 – a one-day, all-ages music festival built for a classic Kiwi summer and packed with performances from Aotearoa’s most iconic artists.
With a powerhouse lineup featuring Six60, Katchafire, The Black Seeds, Ria Hall, Troy Kingi, and Tiki Taane, Summer Meltdown promises to be an unforgettable fusion of sound, energy, and culture. This is the moment music fans have been waiting for – and the countdown to one of summer’s biggest events starts right now.
Summer Meltdown Features:
SIX60
Returning to Wellington for the first time in two years, Six60’s story has always felt larger than life, and their music even more so. What began as Dunedin flatmates jamming for fun has evolved into a musical phenomenon, blending soul, pop, reggae, rock and electronic into a sound that’s unmistakably their own. With their 2026 album Right Here Right Now reigniting the raw, roots-driven spark that first set them apart, Six60 will transform Summer Meltdown into a full-scale spectacle with their inescapable anthems.
Joining Six60 is a stellar lineup of homegrown talent – each bringing an incredible catalogue of songs, huge live reputations and a genuine connection to Aotearoa music.
KATCHAFIRE
Katchafire’s journey from the mighty H‑Town to the world stage is rooted in pure Māori pride and classic reggae spirit. Blending vibrant rhythms with cultural depth, Katchafire has earned global respect and shared stages with legends from Damian Marley to UB40. With Revival 2.0 continuing their legacy of unity and uplifting grooves, Katchafire will bring an authentic, soul‑soaked reggae experience to Summer Meltdown.
Photo Credit: Mark Russell
THE BLACK SEEDS
Originating from Wellington, The Black Seeds have built a reputation on platinum‑selling albums, irresistible grooves, and a live show that hits with big‑beat funk, dub, soul and roots‑reggae. Led by Barnaby Weir and Daniel Weetman, their boundary‑crossing sound has taken them across Europe and North America, earning a devoted international following. With recent singles 8BIT (2026) and Compassion (2025) hinting at an exciting new chapter, The Black Seeds bring their signature warmth, rhythm and world‑class energy to the Summer Meltdown stage.
RIA HALL
Ria Hall stands as one of Aotearoa’s most compelling contemporary voices, blending hip‑hop, reggae, soul, dancehall ragga and modern beats into a sound that’s vibrant and fearless. A powerful live performer shaped by kapa haka and dedicated to elevating te reo Māori, Ria Hall has earned critical acclaim through her landmark albums Rules of Engagement and Manawa Wera, cementing herself as one of the country’s most dynamic artists. Expect Ria Hall to deliver a fierce and deeply soulful set at January’s Summer Meltdown.
Photo Credit: Sunflower Sessions Photography
TIKI TAANE
Tiki Taane remains one of Aotearoa’s most influential and versatile artists, evolving from Salmonella Dub frontman to a record‑breaking solo force and sought‑after producer for acts such as Six60, Kora, Katchafire, and long-time collaborators Shapeshifter. Tiki Taane’s career has been defined by innovation, creativity and a deep connection to live performance. When Tiki steps onto the Summer Meltdown stage, he’ll unleash an immersive, live looping, high‑energy one man band set that showcases the iconic energy that has made him a cornerstone of New Zealand music.
TROY KINGI
Troy Kingi has become one of Aotearoa’s most inventive artists, rising through award‑winning albums to build one of the country’s most ambitious musical catalogues. His 10/10/10 project – ten albums, ten genres, ten years – has earned major accolades and cemented him as a fearless creative force. With 2025’s Night Lords and the upcoming Abbey Road‑recorded Yort, Ignik Yort completing the cycle, Kingi brings a genre‑shifting, imaginative presence to Summer Meltdown, delivering a bold and boundary-defying performance.
With a lineup built for a summer crowd, fans can expect huge songs, massive performances, and a full‑throttle celebration of the music that makes New Zealand unique. Summer Meltdown isn’t just another festival – it’s a classic summer’s day made for you and your mates to soak up the atmosphere while some of the country’s finest artists take the stage.
Pre-Registration Open Now!
Presale – Thursday 10th Sept, 8am.
Public on sale – Friday 11th Sept, 8am.
www.brewtown.co.nz/summermeltdown
SUMMER MELTDOWN 2027
SIX60 – KATCHAFIRE – THE BLACK SEEDS – RIA HALL – TIKI TAANE – TROY KINGI
23 JANUARY 2027 @ BREWTOWN, UPPER HUTT
