Rail Land - 2019: A new show and tour in December

I’m thrilled to announce that Rail Land will return to Aotearoa this summer, as a new show and a national tour. Rail Land is more than a show - it’s a journey, and this year I will travel with the audience to some of New Zealand’s most extraordinary community venues.

Rail Land - 2019 edition

Friday, Dec 6 - Papatoetoe Town Hall via AT Metro - Eastern Line

Sat, Dec 7 - Khandallah Town Hall via Metlink - Johnsonville Line

Sat, Dec 14 - Waikari War Memorial Hall via Weka Pass Railway (and special bus ex-Christchurch)*

Fri, Dec 20 - Waitati Hall, via Dunedin Railways - Seasider*

Tickets for all shows here:

*ticket price includes the cost of return train journey

This year, Rail Land travels to new destinations on the Wellington and Auckland rail networks, using affordable, extraordinary public rail journeys to reach two distinct town centres - both with early 20th Century characters, and astounding civic halls.

In the South Island, where similar rail services stopped decades ago, we’re chartering trains - to bring evening passenger services to life for one summer twilight - just as we did last year in Waitati.

We’ve also found a way to reach Canterbury for the first time - chartering the Weka Pass Railway from Waipara to the Waikari War Memorial Hall. A rule of Rail Land is that you should have the option to start from your city centre. So - we’re also running a special, Rail Land Road Services bus, for those based in Christchurch, to make this one return trip, with a connecting train.

The Rail Land show is a theatrical extension of my set, linked together by a narrative and custom-made music. It’s a chance to break out of the setlists I’ve been working from, preview the new, and bring new life to the old.

Last year, the show resulted in new material I couldn’t have imagined, much less performed without the show. And the cathartic atmosphere brought new life to songs I don’t normally play, like Twenty-Three. I’m excited about what’s coming this year. There will be new songs, new old songs, and surprises..

Tickets are on sale now, and list a starting point and departure time for each journey. All shows will allow plenty of time for return travel by rail and other public transport, and we’ll get you home by a reasonable hour.

The show will once again travel with our collection of NZR Advertising department posters, thanks to our sponsor, Phantom Billstickers.

You can see more about Rail Land, and its previous journeys and stories here.