Grammy and Academy Award winner Bret McKenzie is bringing his critically acclaimed second album to Aussie stages.
Fresh off sold-out residencies across the US and UK, the Flight of the Conchords legend Bret McKenzie will tour Australia in March 2026 with his eight-piece band The State Highway Wonders. Expect new material from Freak Out City alongside classic favourites, impromptu songs crafted from audience stories, and plenty of onstage chaos.
Bret McKenzie
- Melbourne, Thornbury Theatre – Friday 20 March
- Brisbane, The Tivoli – Wednesday 25 March
- Sydney, Factory Theatre – Friday 27 March
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McKenzie’s second solo album Freak Out City dropped in August 2025 via Sub Pop Records. Co-produced with longtime collaborator Mickey Petralia, the record was road-tested with his band before hitting the studio. Critics praised its sharp lyricism, lush arrangements and McKenzie’s signature offbeat charm.
Beyond Flight of the Conchords, McKenzie has penned songs for everyone from Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy to Celine Dion, Lizzo, Tony Bennett and even Homer and Lisa Simpson. His work spans film, television and stage, with his songwriting appearing in everything from Minecraft to The Muppets.
McKenzie won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2012 for Man or Muppet, cementing his status as one of the most distinctive comedic songwriters around. His musical journey started in Wellington’s vibrant late-90s scene, where he co-founded The Black Seeds and the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra alongside collaborations with Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi.
These Australian shows promise McKenzie’s signature variety-style performance, featuring songs from Freak Out City, career highlights, hilarious career anecdotes and spontaneous musical creations with help from the crowd. His dynamic live show has been honed through recent international tours, delivering equal parts musicianship and mayhem.
Following his 2019 solo debut Songs Without Jokes, Freak Out City showcases Bret McKenzie’s evolution as an artist, blending genres and decades of experience into something refreshingly unpredictable. The State Highway Wonders bring the album’s layered sound to life on stage.
General public tickets go on sale Friday 16 January at 12pm local time.
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