Fat Freddy's Drop

On 8 June 2026 Fat Freddy’s Drop will perform at SPOT/De Oosterpoort in Groningen. The band from Wellington is known for a sound that blends reggae and dub with soul, jazz and subtle electronics. Live, it’s all about groove and long arcs of tension: deep bass, horns that carry the themes and room for improvisation. The warm voice of Joe Dukie (Dallas Tamaira) leads the songs, while Fitchie (Chris Faiumu) drives the rhythmic engine, Dobie Blaze (Iain Gordon) layers the harmonies and Jetlag Johnson (Tehimana Kerr) keeps the guitar lines sharp.

On stage they build songs layer by layer, from loose skank to solid dub, with echoes that breathe and breaks that redirect the energy. Expect a set where new sketches sit comfortably alongside familiar favourites, with material from eras such as Based on a True Story, Dr Boondigga & The Big BW and Blackbird. The strength lies in the interplay: horns that add colour, shifting percussion, pulsing keys and a voice that ties everything together. An evening in which a track slowly grows, the groove keeps rolling and the crowd moves with an idiosyncratic Aotearoa sound.