Upcoming live shows:
Easter 2026 - Hamsterfest, Paeroa
16 May 2026 - Vogelmorn Upstairs, Wellington
Bob McNeill & Emily Roughton are two of New Zealand's best-known folk musicians. They bring their deep musical connection to stages across New Zealand, playing their favourite songs and tunes collected over years of playing together at festivals, concerts and late into the night at kitchen tables.
Based in Wellington, Bob is one of NZ's best known folk songwriters. His songs have been covered by artists in NZ, Australia, the UK and USA. New Zealand Musician magazine compared his songwriting to Bruce Springsteen and Mark Knopfler; the Dominion Post likened him to Jackson Brown, James Taylor, Luka Bloom and Dougie MacLean. A guitarist, he is known for his fingerstyle and rhythmic playing. He has toured widely in NZ, Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK and USA. His latest album is TWELVE DREAMS OF THE RIVER, released in December 2025. It explores themes of life, age and identity, re-imagined as a trip down New Zealand's Waikato River, with side trips down the Manuherikia, in the South Island, and the Kelvin, in his native Scotland. It's his most intimate work to date, with some of his most beautiful songs. Playing all the instruments himself, he ventures into new territory on bass, piano, Mellotron and Rhodes, alongside his signature guitar playing.
From Whangarei, Emily is a virtuoso violinist inspired by the Scottish tradition and the modern trad movement. She tours internationally with her band Rough Town and with Celtic dance groups. Classically trained, she is infinitely adaptable with her gorgeous stylings and fiery tune playing and the perfect foil for Bob's lyrical songs.
Don't miss a chance to see these two consummate musicians share their footstomping collection of banging tunes, favourite songs and stolen moments from the last 20 years.