13/06/2026
Kerryn Fields at The Jam Factory
Friday 12 June
There are gigs, and then there are homecomings. Kerryn Fields’ one-off show at The Jam Factory was firmly the latter—made all the more special because she was in town not for a tour, but to celebrate her grandfather’s 90th birthday. That she chose to treat a sold-out room to a performance on the side felt like a gift.
Friends and family packed the venue, but so did fans, some who had driven from Auckland and Taupō just to hear her sing. Everyone who walked through the doors seemed to share the same quiet confidence: they were in for something special and they were not disappointed.
Kerryn Fields delivers exactly what we love most about country/folk music: storytelling and emotional rawness. But here’s where it hits sweeter—her stories are rooted in lyrics that connect you to the whenua and awa of places just down the road. When she spoke of writing songs on the back of her dad’s ute beside the river in Te Kuiti, the beautiful “Until You” took on new depth (a song she assured us was made for snogging). The poignant “Trains and Whistles” rang truer when you pictured the tracks leading out of her hometown.
And then, the voice. Beautiful, raw, deep, rich timbre —like the land that birthed her. Kerryn may now call Melbourne home, but her vocal cords still answer to Aotearoa.
What Kerryn does best is connect. Whether through the ache in a lyric or the easy banter between songs—like a detour about chatting to a toddler at the airport on her way home—she held the room. Time slipped by and her final song came too soon.
The night was made richer by the presence of Chanelle Davis (now based in Papamoa), who opened with her own fabulous songs and even covered one of Kerryn’s—much to the headliner’s delight. Chanelle, it turns out, is also a trusted critic of Kerryn’s recordings, and the warmth of their friendship was evident when she joined on piano and backing vocals. Completing the trio, Bill Basset on pedal steel guitar added a layer of genuine country soul—his seamless lines perfectly complementing each song.
Kerryn’s performance packs the country music punch: one minute you’re roaring with laughter, and the next your eyes are leaking. But she sweetens those raw moments with a jest, like a nod to the fake roses she’d draped around the microphone stand “The music might be harrowing, but it’s so pretty!”, she grinned.
We are honoured to have an artist of Kerryn Fields’ calibre perform at The Jam Factory, and luckier still that her family keeps her tied to Tauranga. Here’s hoping that connection brings her back sooner rather than later.
For those who missed this one—or who haven’t yet heard her sing—do yourself a favour. Keep an eye out for her next New Zealand return. You’ll want to be in the room.
Kerryn Fields Chanelle Davis Bill Bassett @
