Bush and Shinedown – Spark Arena, 17 September 2026: Review & Photo Galleries

Sarah Kidd and Photos by Leonie Moreland

18th September 2026

Thursday night is close enough to the weekend that a huge double header of rock at Spark Arena is definitely a must see option. And considering it was the headliners first appearance ever in Aotearoa, Shinedown fans turned out in force.

Coast Arcade

As should be the way with all international acts, a local support was the first to kick off the night. Coast Arcade who hail from Tāmaki Makaurau have in just five short years since forming moved from strength to strength, playing small venues to selling out Tuning Fork.

Led by vocalist Bella Bavin who created the band alongside Thom Boynton on drums, Coast Arcade have managed to take that guitar laden sound of the nineties and early two thousands and turned into something of their own, something that sounds rather vital and fresh.

While they have already supported such acts as Lime Cordiale, Teenage Dads and Peach Pit as well as appearing at several festivals including Le Currents and White Out, last night was their first arena show, and they held their own on that massive stage; guitars loud and fuzzy in just the right way and Bavin throwing down vocals as if she had been doing it in a previous lifetime. With tracks such as Surf Club, Highest Heights and Cycles and with their self-titled debut album released in October of last year already making its mark, expect to see a lot more of these guys on major stages.

Bush

To say that the English rock band Bush was a drawcard last night would be an understatement, their debut album Sixteen Stone released in 1994 was such a formative album for many of the fans who were just finishing college back then with singles that are still played on frequent rotation on rock radio stations.

Formed in 1992, lead singer Gavin Rossdale may be the only original member left but with musicians such as Chris Traynor on guitar who has ties with Helmet and Corey Britz on bass who has previously played for Eagles of Death Metal, Bush are a juggernaut on stage.

With a simple backdrop of their name in large letters, Bush came out swinging with Everything Zen from their aforementioned debut album, the fans went wild, bouncing and arms raised in the air as they sang the chorus band to the band with glee. Rossdale, now sixty, looked in high spirits; discarding his jacket by the second track and revealing a muscle tank and a physique that belied his age.

Their set would turn out to be a fantastic mix of classics and later material, Identity from their ninth album The Art of Survival and The Land of Milk and Honey from their latest offering I Beat Loneliness released just last year proving unequivocally that they still know how to write damn good rock tracks.

Machinehead with that iconic guitar riff that instantly makes anyone feel like they can take on the world, had the audience headbanging, Rossdale moving between playing guitar and only vocal duties throughout the set, the latter really showing his strengths as he took charge of the strings. Followed by Greedy Fly was an unexpected but much celebrated track from the brilliant 1996 sophomore album Razorblade Suitcase; sadly, the band were later forced to cut their set due to time constraints which meant fans missed out on hearing Swallowed another epic single from the same album.

During the set it was hard to pull your eyes from drummer Nik Huges, who pounded the skins like they owed him money, his flare behind the kit making for a highly entertaining set, this coupled with bassist Britz whose work on both the bass and backing vocals and of course Traynor with well-rounded guitar work meant that Spark Arena were truly in the midst of a rock show.

Little Things saw Rossdale break out the dance moves as he traversed the stage, the high energy song pushing the audience as arms punched the air, the mood slowly turning a little more sombre as Rossdale gave a moving dedication to their recently passed tour manager Peter Katsis. Losing him just last month after over a decade with the band Rossdale spoke of how it was Katsis who managed to get them back to New Zealand after thirty years (Bush last here in 1996) and how this was their first show without him. Dedicating Glycerine to him, which Rossdale played solo the room was filled with reverence and cell phone lights.

During Flowers on a Grave, Rossdale decided to get up close and personal with the audience as he made his way through the GA section and up into the stands of both sides of the arena, hugging and high fiving fans and even posing for the occasional quick selfie. Apparently completely unscripted according later to security it showed just how much Rossdale truly did value his fans, thanking them throughout the night for turning up and still supporting them after all these years; “music is everything, it is the unification of us all” Rossdale later stated, and no truer words could have been spoken.

A two song encore that concluded with Comedown saw the entire audience belt out the chorus along with Rossdale, the band at one point pausing to let the New Zealand fans take the lead which they did so with relish. It may have taken Bush thirty years to get back here, but it was definitely worth the wait.

Shinedown

Last night was the first appearance of Shinedown in New Zealand; hailing from Jacksonville Florida, home of the infamous Limp Bizkit, Shinedown were determined to leave their kiwi fans with an experience they wouldn’t soon forget.

Formed in 2001, the band has sold an incredible ten million records worldwide and have the most number one singles – twenty-four to be exact – on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts, a claim to fame that few can make.

Kicking off their set with Safe and Sound it was Devour that really saw them ramp it up, frontman Brent Smith in a black blazer with embellished cuffs, coming through strong both vocally and stage presence wise. Pyrotechnics went off and the fans went wild, Shinedown feeding off their energy as the smiles on their faces grew wider, guitarist Zach Myers spinning across the stage.

Diamond Eyes was a huge hit, that nostalgic early two thousands sound reminiscent of acts such as P.O.D, ensuring the rock show vibes were continued; “Thursday night is no good, let’s turn this into Saturday night!” Smith bellowed, the audience cheering in agreement. Continuing on Smith encouraged those present of following their long tradition of looking to the person on their left and right and if they didn’t know them to shake hands and introduce themselves, music being the great communicator and bringing together of like-minded souls.

If You Only Knew laid down the anthemic feels before .45 ushered back in the hard rock, Devil and Enemies which saw the stage impressively lit up in flames only doubling down, as Smith jumped into the middle of the audience and made a line down the middle encouraging them to jump as hard as they could much to their delight.

By now Eric Bass funnily enough on bass, had removed his shirt prompting Smith to introduce him as the bands own version of Brad Pitt from Fight Club; Smiths gentle ribbing of his own band member showing how close they all are and the symbiotic relationship they have as each member only pushed the other to deliver their very best.

A Symptom of Being Human saw four disco balls above the stage light up and shower the audience in twinkling lights, Smith asking the fans to hold up their lighters or turn on their phone lights to really show them “stars.” Shower fireworks with subtle blues erupted from the back of the stage, as once again the flames rose, but this time it brought a feeling of love and togetherness, the song a favourite with many couples who drew each other closer.

Bully pulled the audience straight back into rocking out the chorus certainly making a few older members of the audience think of Def Leppard’s Pour Some Sugar On Me from 1987. And hey every rock show needs a good cover, Shinedown throwing in Simple Man by the one and only Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Rounding out the night with Sound of Madness and 2008’s Second Chance, a song that even if you don’t follow Shinedown would instantly set off the memory banks as it is so iconic, and Shinedown took the time to get in the photo pit and briefly meet fans, take some selfies, and deliver many a high five. Always a pleasure to watch a band genuinely appreciate their fans.

The massive double header now moves across to Australia, and for anyone sitting on the fence about whether to attend or not, buy that ticket, for music truly does unify us all and when bands deliver a show as good as this which ticks all the boxes (including that nostalgia one) it is an immediate no brainer.