Live at The Tuning Fork
29 July 2026
Live Review by Music Journalist: Paul Marshall
Holly Hebe Proves Sometimes the Brightest Stars Shine Under a Full Moon.
There's something strangely poetic about driving to a gig as the sun disappears beneath the Auckland skyline.
The sky was painted in impossible shades of orange and crimson before surrendering to darkness. By the time I arrived at The Tuning Fork, a brilliant full moon hung over the venue like a giant stage light. If you're the superstitious type, you'd call it a good omen. As it turned out, it was.
Walking inside, however, the mood briefly shifted. For an all-ages show, the venue was surprisingly sparse. Just a scattering of fans lined the barrier while others lingered around the room. It's unusual to see emerging artists on the rise playing to such a small crowd, especially when tonight's bill featured three acts generating serious momentum on both sides of the Tasman. But as every seasoned gig-goer knows, numbers rarely dictate atmosphere.
Opening the evening was Sammi Heaney, armed with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and a voice capable of silencing an entire room.
Her delivery was captivating from the opening note, effortlessly drawing listeners into deeply personal stories of heartbreak and young love. Before one song she laughed, "I might switch it up and do a happy song... I don't do many happy songs." It was a moment of self-awareness that perfectly summed up the set.
Nearly every song explored familiar territory, boys, break-ups, lost love and emotional scars. There's absolutely an audience for that vulnerability, and Heaney possesses genuine songwriting talent, but after several songs the emotional weight became relentless.
Introducing an upcoming debut single, she explained, "I wrote this one in tears on my bedroom floor." Nobody doubted her sincerity.
What Heaney could benefit from now is contrast. Every great songwriter understands dynamics, not just musically but emotionally. A brighter lyric, a playful melody or even one optimistic moment would allow the darker songs to hit even harder. She's already proven she can write heartbreak. The next challenge is showing the other colours in her songwriting palette.
Still, there's no denying the raw potential.
If Sammi Heaney dealt in stripped-back emotion, Lucy Gray arrived to completely reset the room.
Joined by Tom on DJ and production duties, Gray delivered a slick electronic pop performance built on shimmering synths, pounding low-end and heavily processed vocals. The use of vocoder and Auto-Tune effects became an integral part of the performance rather than a disguise, fitting perfectly with Gray's futuristic pop aesthetic.
There was one unintended comedy moment when the front-of-house engineer accidentally left the vocal processing engaged while Gray chatted between songs, transforming casual stage banter into something resembling a robotic transmission from another galaxy.
Technical hiccups aside, the performance quickly found its groove.
"We've been taking it slow," Gray smiled before launching into "Like A Star."
The track exploded through the PA with thunderous sub-bass that shook The Tuning Fork floor. It's an exceptionally well-produced song, balancing infectious hooks with enough electronic muscle to turn nodding heads into dancing bodies.
For a venue that looked half-empty on arrival, the crowd suddenly felt fully alive.
Gray's confidence continues to grow with every performance. Since emerging in 2022, they've steadily evolved from indie beginnings into an artist embracing hyperpop and alternative electronic production. Along the way they've amassed more than 100,000 social followers, over half a million streams, appeared at Rhythm and Vines, supported multiple international artists and previously headlined this very venue. "Like A Star" has become a defining moment in that artistic evolution, blending early-2000s dance-pop influences with digicore production and contemporary electronic textures.
It's refreshing to witness an artist refusing to stay inside one musical box.
By the time Holly Hebe walked on stage, the room had finally found its pulse.
The Melbourne singer-songwriter has quietly built one of Australia's most exciting emerging careers, sharing stages with acts including Holly Humberstone, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Telenova and The Dreggs while earning praise for emotionally honest songwriting and magnetic live performances. Her latest EP, Mood Ring, expands that reputation with songs exploring heartbreak, superstition and growing up.
Those qualities translated beautifully live.
Early in the set came "Don't Come Crying", an irresistible slice of modern pop that immediately showcased Hebe's gift for memorable choruses. It's the kind of song that feels radio-ready without sacrificing authenticity.
Behind her, drummer Ben proved to be one of the evening's secret weapons.
Every great pop act needs someone driving the songs without overplaying, and Ben understood the assignment perfectly. His tasteful fills, dynamic control and rock-solid groove elevated every arrangement. Just as importantly, he looked every inch the performer, bringing genuine visual energy that made the entire band feel bigger than the stage they occupied.
"Crying Your Eyes Out" arrived with a stunning introduction before unfolding into one of the evening's standout performances. Hebe explained that the track was produced by Dennis, a producer based in Berlin, and the international polish was unmistakable. The production translates beautifully to a live environment while still allowing the emotional core of the song to breathe.
As the night drew toward its conclusion, "Bottle Blonde" landed as the penultimate song.
Already a fan favourite from the Ruby EP, it's a song that perfectly captures Hebe's ability to package vulnerability inside irresistibly catchy pop songwriting. Live, it felt even bigger than its studio counterpart, with the audience singing back every word.
Sometimes the best concerts aren't defined by sold-out rooms.
Sometimes they're defined by discovery.
Tonight wasn't about giant production budgets or arena-sized crowds. It was about three artists all standing at different points in their journey, each bringing something unique to the stage.
Sammi Heaney reminded us how powerful vulnerability can be.
Lucy Gray demonstrated that the future of New Zealand alternative pop is in very capable hands.
And Holly Hebe confirmed why she's rapidly becoming one of Australia's most compelling young singer-songwriters.
Outside, the full moon was still shining over Auckland as fans drifted into the night.
Maybe it really was a good omen after all.
Holly Hebe Set List:
- Mood Ring
- Swimsuit
- Billboards
- Don't Come Crying
- Strobe Lights
- Maybe I'm Growing
- Baby Pick Your Phone Up
- Nineteen
- Crying Your Eyes Out
- SNAP OUT OF IT!
- Hot
- Ultra Love
- Birthmark
- Out of the Blue
- Bottle Blonde
- Hat Hair
Reviewer: Paul Marshall
Photography by Paul Marshall
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