Aussie legend Courtney Barnett today announces she will be joined by Salt Water Criminals in Hamilton, Louisa Nicklin in Auckland, Vera Ellen in Wellington, and Mim Jensen in Christchurch on her Creature of Habit New Zealand tour this November.
More than five years since her last sold-out New Zealand tour, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter will bring her live show to Aotearoa, celebrating her newly released fourth studio album ‘Creature of Habit’.
The Creature of Habit Tour kicks off in Kirikiriroa Hamilton on Wednesday November 18 at the BNZ Theatre before heading to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s Town Hall on Friday November 20, followed by Ōtautahi Christchurch on Saturday November 21 at the Isaac Theatre Royal, with the final show at the Michael Fowler Centre in Pōneke Wellington on Sunday November 22.
Final tickets are available to purchase now from livenation.co.nz
From bedroom recording project to full noise quartet, Salt Water Criminals are, as Rolling Stone AU put it, a “grassroots success story”. With roots in cold Otepoti bedrooms, the band has quickly earned a reputation in their new home of Tamaki Makaurau as both a formidable live act, and something of a song factory. Their recent album Sit Tight Spin Outfeatures the band’s most cleverly-crafted songs, and further cements Salt Water Criminals as “one of the most exciting acts in the underground indie-rock space”.
A finalist in the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards for Best Alternative Artist, Tāmaki Makaurau based artist Louisa Nicklin has cemented herself as a songwriter to be reckoned with. Searingly honest lyrics, coupled with visceral guitar riffs and dark looping melodies make Nicklin’s music an easily identifiable and totally enveloping world to experience. The last few years have seen Nicklin dive deeper into her sound, spending 18 months honing songs for her record The Big Sulk. Produced by Shayne P. Carter, the sophomore record feels expansive, urgent and timeless. Outside of her own song-crafting, Nicklin can be spotted performing with local acts Jazmine Mary, Sulfate, Atomic and Dimmer.
Aotearoa/New Zealand indie savant Mim Jensen is a trailblazer. Over the years of sharing hook-laden and emotional rock n’ roll across both sides of the Tasman Sea, she has graced countless festivals and headline shows. The NZ Herald triumphs her as “…one of the most compelling front-people in Aotearoa.” Her debut EP, Emotional Affair, navigated through her attachments, toxic relationships, and the journey from conditional to unconditional love, all set against a backdrop of tight guitar-pop sounds. Now Jensen is crafting her debut album with her next body of work expertly weaving contrasting themes of sensitivity, introspection and empowerment, with Jensen transmuting pain into power.
Taite Music Prize winner Vera Ellen is “one of the sharpest songwriters to emerge from Aotearoa in a long time” (Rolling Stone). Fresh from supporting Aldous Harding across Europe and Crowded House across Australia, she brings her new Flying Nun album Heaven Knows What Time home to Pōneke.
Courtney will bring her new record and extensive catalogue to life with performances in some of New Zealand’s premiere venues this November, transforming each track into a dynamic, shared experience that resonates long after the final note.
Courtney Barnett’s Creature of Habit is out now (Fiction Records) – Get it HERE!
Photo credit – Lyndsey Byrnes
COURTNEY BARNETT
CREATURE OF HABIT TOUR
Presented by Live Nation and 95bFM*
BNZ THEATRE, KIRIKIRIROA HAMILTON
WITH SALT WATER CRIMINALS
WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER
AUCKLAND TOWN HALL, TĀMAKI MAKAURAU AUCKLAND
WITH LOUISA NICKLIN
FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER
*Auckland show only
ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL, ŌTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH
WITH MIM JENSEN
SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER
MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE, PŌNEKE WELLINGTON
WITH VERA ELLEN
SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER
TICKETS ON SALE NOW