Fat Freddy's Drop

The seven-piece New Zealand band, formed in Wellington, will be performing on 24 September 2026 at La Riviera as part of the Celebration Of The 21st Anniversary Of Based On A True Story tour, paying tribute to the album that launched Fat Freddy’s Drop’s international career. Formed in Wellington (New Zealand) in 1999, Fat Freddy’s Drop have established themselves as one of the best-known bands on the international scene thanks to a sound that fuses dub, reggae, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues with electronic music into a unique musical language that they themselves describe as “hi-tek soul”. Since their early days as a jam band linked to various musical projects in New Zealand, they have developed a sound characterised by improvisation and creative freedom. International recognition came in 2003 following the release of their single Midnight Marauders in various European countries, particularly in Germany, marking the start of an ongoing relationship with audiences across the continent. Their first studio album, Based On A True Story (2005), became a phenomenon in New Zealand, reaching number one in the charts and remaining on the country’s official charts for over two years, also winning Best Album at the New Zealand Music Awards. On this new tour, Celebration Of The 21st Anniversary Of Based On A True Story, they will also pay special tribute to the band’s career and the legacy of Chris Faiumu, a founding member who passed away in 2025.