Gig Review: Foley @ Whammy, Auckland – 08/05/2026

Foley returned to Aotearoa for their Like An Actress tour which celebrated their newest EP. Formerly based in Tāmaki Makaurau, the now Sydney-based pop duo returned to showcase the experience and energy they’ve now gained touring overseas, playing shows across Australia and Asia. This is a big deal for this band, as they’ve consistently reaped the rewards of exceptionally hard work and acclamation over the years. Ash Wallace (vocals) and Gabe Everett (vocals/guitar) are a powerhouse of combined skill set and dedication to their music career. Tonight we also saw Elijah Whyte on drums. Igniting stages and hearts for more than just a minute, they’re back to follow suit and put on three nights to remember. 

May 8th at Whammy was a night filled with polished pop, emotional slow-burners, and nostalgia. 

Opening the evening was Emerson, whose set carried intensity that slowly consumed us. With minimal instrumentation and backing tracks filling the gaps, the performance relied heavily on her voice, which was thankfully more than enough to engage us. One of the night’s earlier highlights came with Residue, an eerie and emotionally weighty track that immediately stood apart. Before performing it, Emerson asked the audience whether it deserved an official release, only to be met with a huge “yes” response from the crowd. It was easy to understand why. Even without a guitarist onstage, the room never felt empty. Her voice occupied every corner of Whammy. 

Tip Of My Tongue drew recognition from the audience almost immediately, while Tell Me What I Want To Hear delivered some of the most engaging percussion work of the evening. The drummer’s use of triplet-heavy kick patterns added a restless pulse into the track that made it impossible not to lock in. 

Rita Mae followed with a set that balanced humour, intimacy, and effortless stage presence. Speaking about her upcoming EP Kill Joy, due later this year, she carried herself with the kind of relaxed confidence that immediately wins over a crowd. Tracks like My Bad showcased her ability to juggle acoustic guitar work with delicate vocals. There were moments where her voice drifted subtly into country territory, adding an earthy grit to her tracks which was beautiful. 

The front rows clearly knew her material well, singing back lyrics throughout the set, while slower tracks unfolded with cinematic quality that gave the room space to breathe and reset. A particularly bittersweet love song towards the end of the performance landed with a bit of resonance from the crowd. 

Her cover of The End Of The World felt especially striking, not because it reinvented the song entirely, but because she delivered it with such natural ownership that it blended seamlessly into the rest of her song choices that night. By the time she closed with Kiss The Sky, the crowd was heavily set on her and her motive. 

When Foley finally emerged, opening with Cinematic, the atmosphere inside Whammy shifted instantly. The set was razor-tight from the very first moments, sounding less like a local pop show and more like a band stepping confidently into an international calibre of performance. Ash Wallace’s vocals were mesmerising throughout the night, so powerful without losing clarity, expressive and not overdone. Beside her, Gabe Everett’s guitar work and harmonies anchored the set beautifully, the two moving together with the confidence of artists who have spent years refining every detail of their craft.

Then there was Elijah Whyte.

His drumming elevated the performance into something genuinely thrilling. Fast, intricate, and relentlessly energetic, his playing constantly pushed the songs forward without overpowering them. One chopped-up groove early in the set drew huge reactions from the crowd, and from that point onward the room felt completely surrendered to the band’s energy.

By the second song, phones were already in the air. The grooves were infectious, the crowd was fully engaged, and despite mentioning they hadn’t performed in New Zealand for quite some time, Foley managed to make the room feel like they’d never left.

One of the evening’s most charming moments came when the band introduced a disposable camera into the audience, encouraging fans to pass it around and document the night themselves. It was a small gesture, but one that perfectly reflected the warmth and connection Foley brought to the performance.

The band also showcased material from their newly released EP Like An Actress, with newer tracks sitting naturally alongside older favourites like Talk About It and Midnight. Hearing these songs live highlighted just how much the duo has evolved since 2019 when I first saw them. The growth in confidence, stage presence, and vocal control was undeniable. At one point Ash picked up the guitar, further flaunting the duo’s versatility and musical chemistry. Every transition felt smooth, every harmony intentional, every movement well-practised without losing spontaneity.

What made Foley’s return so compelling wasn’t simply the quality of the set, although that alone was exceptional, but the sense that the band have fully arrived in themselves. They no longer feel like a promising act on the rise. They feel established. It’s beautiful when you see a band do this within a few years!

For a band returning home after conquering stages overseas, Foley didn’t just meet expectations…

They completely outgrew them!

Photo Credit: Finn Zemba for Muzic.NZ
Photos are from the following night – 9 May 2026 @ Meow, Wellington
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