Alternative singer/songwriter HIRI returns to Public Bar with indie quintet Shooless, for the Public Service show series next Wednesday the 4th of November.
Despite the venue being under a relatively new, brand-integrated name, HIRIs return to Whammy Public Bar next week ultimately feels like their return to The Wine Cellar.
A couple of years ago, the indie venue under St Kevins Arcade was our haunt, relishing in the final days of one of Aucklands best small venues before we knew it’d soon be gone. Just as the pre-pandemic generations before me speak of the glory days of The Kings Arms and Golden Dawn, I feel gutted that the people I’ve seen entering the Tāmaki Makaurau music scene narrowly missed working with a venue that was unparalleled in it’s genuine affordability, community-driven approach, and presence of Rohan Evans.
The Wine Cellar needed promoters to sell around twenty tickets to cover their hire costs, meaning young bands could usually book ahead on a website form with confidence that they would break even and cover the hire costs one way or another. The package included bar security, staff, and sound capabilities that always did the trick, while stragglers infesting the public bar would often poke their head around and eventually grab a ticket for the love of the game.
I never got to play a show at Wine Cellar, but I was lucky enough to help organise a couple for my old comic zine SPECK. There were issue release parties, tour stops, and collaborative shows held, eventually bringing together our zine with Slow Rage, Back To The Hillside, and a headlining HIRI.
Apparently I seemed too locked into my spreadsheet tracking ticket and zine sales, because I scared Hiri off after I said hi back to them. I remember the interaction going kindly, but that’s likely wishful thinking. Regardless, their gig sold well and sent off Slow Rage before they went on hiatus to record …Until It Happens To You, leading Hiri and myself to bump into each other again soon enough.
We’ve had a wonderful couple years of knowing each other since then, spanning various cities, flats, and levels of collegiality, but the last time HIRI released new music was the single ‘Home’ back in 2025 - a slow, soulful song spinning tales between their canvases. I’ve had a first hand look at the collation of their next album, continuing to diverge between genres and alternative aesthetics while introducing them to Te Reo Māori. The fact that I get to partake in the production and premiere of this next batch of songs is an absolute privilege.
After debuting their new band at CubaDupa in Wellington and at BIG FANs enrolment gig earlier in October, The new HIRI band joins the spectacular Shooless for PUBLIC SERVICE next week. Entry is free, but capacity is limited - get in early if you want to see the action.