Graeme James

This October 11th, Graeme James brings his electrifying one-man-band show to Ōkato’s beloved Hempton Hall. Using electric violin, guitar, banjo, bass, piano, baritone ukulele, mandolin, harmonica, and percussion, he crafts lush, full-band soundscapes in real time—layer by layer—delivering foot-stomping, loop-driven folk that bursts with rhythm and joy.

He started out busking the streets of Wellington, New Zealand, learning how to win over crowds one song at a time. That energy carried him through years of touring across Europe and North America, performing everywhere from festival stages to forest clearings.

Now based back in Aotearoa, he continues to weave driving rhythms, soaring melodies, and irresistible hooks into songs that celebrate life’s journeys and the landscapes that inspire them. With more than 50 million Spotify streams and praise from Rolling Stone and Indie Shuffle, his songs have a way of finding their way into hearts—and onto playlists—all over the world.