Big Horns – Auckland Town Hall, 21 March 2026: Review & Photo Galleries

Big Horns blow into town to scorch the Great Hall with a masterclass of the best in Americana Roots music. Heavily inspired by the history of Black America and encompasses the rise of Jazz and on to the Big Band era, and from there embracing the wonderful era of Soul, Funk and liberal doses of Hip-Hop and Rap.

Undoubtedly the star of the show tonight is the magnificent ensemble of brass and reeds, underpinned by a sterling engine room.

It is a massive sound tonight in the Great Hall. In 2024 I saw this show at the Powerstation where they cramped in up to thirty players on a smaller stage space.

Tonight they have room to space out in several tiers behind the main floor. The show looks bigger than 18 months ago.

Dixon Nacey is the musical director and sole guitarist, who keeps the show moving along at a fast pace with all the elements blending in seamlessly.

Veteran trumpet player Mike Booth, a Jazz playing institution in New Zealand leads the crucial horn section.

I count 4 saxophones, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, a sousaphone and a big tuba providing the gut-resonating low-blowing rumble.

Whilst I certainly would not call this a family affair show tonight, that would probably be the Manuka Phuel Synthony Festival playing since early afternoon at the Auckland Domain, there are a scattering of teens here who are ready to bust out moves, but predominantly Millennials’ and late Boomers here this evening. Reflecting the peak period of mid-Seventies and on through to the era of Hip-Hop and Rap.

The evening opens with DJ Elton Noyer who maintains a seamless blend of old and new and keeps the slowly filling room entertained, although the audience are a little distracted as the set seems to go on longer than we anticipated.

The sound is a little muted for the cavernous space, possibly by design. We can pick out ABC, and I Want You Back by the Jackson Five, the R’n’B layered with Seventies Funk from Parliament and the likes. As it nears to showtime, James Brown makes his understated voice appearance with Sex Machine.

Huge cheer as all the band members take their places, and it is an impressive sight as they fire up the night with Earth Wind and Fire’s In the Stone.

Troy Kingi is on early with a heavily funked-up version of Bill Wither’s Use Me. It really does not take the crowd long to get into the swing of things, and rapidly when the asses are freed, the minds quickly follow.

But it’s a night of louche and cool swing, and no one is looking to overheat.

Kingi fronts a remarkable version of AC-DC’s Back in Black. Where rap and hip-hop are artfully intertwined with classic Rock’n’roll. Exposes that original band’s close connection to Chuck Berry rhythms with Nacey ripping out some judicious fills.

Motown was hugely influential in the Sixties with its blend of bright Pop with down-to-earth Soul (with little room for Blues). The Big Horns play a heavily funked version of I Heard It Through the Grapevine (written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong), fronted by Kingi.

Deva Mahal is the daughter of the great American artist Taj Mahal, and she is one of the best Soul singers now domiciled in New Zealand. She dominates stages whether big (like WOMAD) or intimate like the Big Fan, where I last saw her.

She takes Earth Wind and Fires Fantasy and comes close to making it her own.

The other featured vocalist are Syah Folau, Iri Aumatangi and Lady Lyric. Just a few of the many highlights include Pony (Ginuwine), California Love (Tupac) mixed with No Diggity (Blackstreet), Ring Ring Ring (De La Soul). Saxophonist Francesca Parussini takes some exciting brief solos on that last one.

Back To Life (Soul II Soul) is led impeccably by Lady Lyric as this one inspires some audience participation.

By now the massed horns have a hold of the collective heads and backbones of the large standing audience. Must mention the engine room drums of Elijah White and the bass of Isaac Etimani holding the massive rhythm section down.

Big Horns finish with a medley of Stevie Wonder, moving through I Wish to Master Blaster and Higher Ground. Mining the turf when Wonder was hitting his artistic peak and Kingi does the vocal honours.

Big Horns present a massive and exhilarating experience in the Great Hall to cap this year’s Auckland Arts Festival of 2026.

Rev. Orange Peel

Photography by Ming Lyu