Weekend Gig Guide - Kings Birthday Edition.

👑 Welcome to Your Weekend Gig Guide – King’s Birthday Edition 🎶
📅 May 29–31 | Invercargill

The long weekend has arrived, and there’s plenty happening across Invercargill to keep you entertained. Speight’s is celebrating its 150th birthday with a huge Saturday night party, the A Capella Singers mark 50 years with a special gala concert, and Dunedin musician J Callander brings his signature blend of outlaw folk and rock to RIFF.

From live music and lobby sessions to karaoke heats, birthday celebrations, and bands playing into the night, there’s something happening right across the city. With Monday off for many, there’s no need to worry about the alarm clock the next morning.

If you're looking for something different during the day, the Rotary Club of Invercargill Annual Book Sale continues at the Scottish Hall through to Saturday, with thousands of caps for sale while sports fans can get behind the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel as they look to extend their impressive six-game winning streak.

Whether you're heading out for a quiet drink, a live show, or a late night on the town, here’s your full guide to the King's Birthday weekend. 🎸🍻🎤

Got an event or gig happening around Invercargill & Southland? For pricing 📩[email protected] and get in front of the largest audience in Invercargill & Southland 🎉

Saturday, May 30

👑 Fit for a King — All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet Emberz Restaurant & Bar 🍳☕ Start your long weekend morning right — Saturday, Sunday & Monday, 6am–10am. $34pp. 📍 Ascot Park Hotel, Invercargill.

City Centre

Speight's Ale House 🎂🎶 150 years of the Pride of the South — and Speight's is celebrating in style! El Scratcho takes the stage from 8:30pm for the Sesquicentennial Birthday Party. Come one, come all — grab your crew and make it a night to remember. Good on ya mate 🍺 📍 38 Dee Street.

Waxy's Irish Pub 🎸🍻 All Night Long from 9:30pm till late! Keep the long weekend energy going at Waxy's. 📍 90 Dee Street.

A Capella Singers 🎶🎼 Gloria! — A Gala Concert celebrating 50 years of A Capella Singers Join A Capella Singers as they celebrate 50 years! The first half features music sung over the decades — everything from the madrigal Fair Phyllis to New Zealand composer David Hamilton's The Moon is Distant from the Sea. The choir's founder Ron James returns as guest conductor for one special item. The second half sees soprano Rebecca Ryan and the Invercargill Symphonia join the stage to perform the uplifting Gloria by Vivaldi. A night to remember. 📅 Saturday 30 May | 🕖 7pm 🎟 Adults $40 | Seniors $35 | Students $10 | Under 12 free 155 Tay Street. 📞 027 270-555 📧 [email protected]

Two Doors Down 🍹✨ Social Hour 5:00pm–6:00pm — discounted drinks, great vibes. 📍 Don Street, below The Langlands Hotel.

360 Bar — Top of The Langlands Hotel.
Tuesday to Saturday, 4pm–late
Now pouring Panhead Rat Rod Hazy IPA on tap 🍺 Juicy, fruity, tropical hop character with notes of citrus, pineapple, and stone fruit. Perfect for the long weekend. 📍7th Floor, The Langlands Hotel, Don Street

Niche Laneway Bar 🍸✨ Start your long weekend right at Niche! Join us for good vibes, crafted cocktails, tasty bites, and a relaxed atmosphere in the heart of the city. Catch up with friends, unwind, and enjoy Social Hour specials before the night takes over. Book your table or walk in 🚶 📞 0800 84 86 88 📍 Ground floor, The Langlands Hotel, Don Street.

The Loney 🎧🔥 DJ Awhe hits the decks at The Loney from 11pm tonight! Money shots ready, music loud, vibes high. See ya there 🍹 📍 The Loney, Invercargill.

Suburbs

RIFF – Live Entertainment Venue 🎸🔥 J Callander returns to Invercargill with his patented brand of outlaw folk rock. The musical and lyrical product of growing up on Simon & Garfunkel and Bob Dylan records......before graduating to Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden......and then finally discovering Mark Knopfler, Johnny Cash……and most especially, New Zealand's own criminally under-appreciated, Derek Lind. Along with a proverbial sackful of new songs, Jeremy will be playing songs from his recent record, Shadows in the Shade. 🚪 Doors open 7:30pm | 🎟 $15 at the door 📍 33 Preston Street, Invercargill.

The Ave – Sports Bar 🏉 Rugby live on the big screens! Great food, cold drinks, warm atmosphere — no surcharge ever. 📍 57 Avenal Street.

Alzheimer’s Society Southland’s upcoming Great Gatsby Charity Dinner & Circus, taking place June 6 at Ascot Park Hotel.

Sunday, May 31

👑 Fit for a King — All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet Emberz Restaurant & Bar 🍳☕ 6am–10am, $34pp. The long weekend breakfast continues. 📍 Ascot Park Hotel, Invercargill.

City Centre

Invercargill Central 🎧✨ Silent Disco — Kings Birthday Weekend! Strap on your headphones and dance like nobody's watching — or everybody is. Two sessions to choose from. 🕙 Session 1: 11am–1pm | Session 2: 2pm–4pm | Free entry 📍 39 Esk Street, Invercargill. 📧 [email protected]

Southern Farmers Market 🥦🌿 Southern Farmers Market — every Sunday! Fresh local produce, local people, good vibes. The perfect long weekend Sunday morning outing. 🕘 9:30am–1:30pm | Free entry 📍 Invercargill Railway Station, 2 Leven Street 📧 [email protected]

Suburbs

Southern Steel 🌟🏐 The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel are at home this Sunday — and they're on fire! Six wins from seven, unbeaten at ILT Stadium Southland, and now the Northern Mystics come to town. Get down and back the Steel as they push for the finals. 📅 Sunday 31 May | 🕓 4:00pm 📍 ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill 🎟 Tickets at southernsteel.co.nz

Newfield Tavern 🎶☀️ Sunday Sesh with Dev and Paige — live from 3pm–7pm! The perfect way to wind down the long weekend. 📍 Newfield Tavern, Invercargill.

Eastern Suburbs Tavern 👑🎶 Kings Birthday Sunday sorted at the Eastern! Night Cru take the stage from 6pm. Before the band — $2 Killer Pool and a Monster Raffle ($10) from 4pm–6pm, plus a yummy BBQ 🍖 Courtesy coach available. No booking needed — just show up! 📍 61 Glengarry Crescent, Glengarry.

The Ave – Sports Bar 🏀 Basketball action live on the big screens! 📍 57 Avenal Street.

Got an event or gig happening around Invercargill & Southland? For pricing 📩[email protected] and get in front of the largest audience in Invercargill & Southland 🎉

Coming Up 📅 SAVE the DATE

Waxy's Irish Pub 🧠 Quiz Night — every Wednesday from 7pm. Free entry, Waxy's vouchers up for grabs. Book via waxys.co.nz or 03 214 0313. 🎶 Pop Icons Party — Saturday June 20. Jetset live, a night of pop hits across the ages. Free entry, R18, best dressed. 📍 90 Dee Street. 🎉 Hospo Night — Tuesday June 23. Quiz 7pm, DJ 9pm, Farm Yard dress-up, R18. Bookings essential. 🍽️ Dine to Win — Ireland the Voyage at the Civic Theatre. Dine at Waxy's for your chance to win tickets.

Newfield Tavern ❄️🎤 Cold Nights, Hot Vocals — the full series: Heat 2: June 5 | Heat 3: June 12 | Semi Finals: June 19 | Grand Final 'The Hottest Night of Winter': June 26 🏆 Free entry, cash prizes, every Friday from 7:30pm.

Mīharo 🎨 Legends of Our Lands — Mīharo Art Exhibition Our people, our places, our stories. Opens 26th July. Tues–Fri 10am–4:30pm | Saturday 10am–2pm | Free entry 📍 28 Don Street, Invercargill 📧 [email protected]

RIFF – Live Entertainment Venue 🎸🔥 — Saturday June 20: Rock and Roll Madness — Silly Drunken Bastards return, with support from Hoodaki and Goat. 8pm. $10 waged / $5 unwaged. 📍 33 Preston Street.

Got an event or gig happening around Invercargill & Southland? For pricing 📩[email protected] and get in front of the largest audience in Invercargill & Southland 🎉

Friday, May 29

City Centre

Two Doors Down 🎶✨ Kick off the long weekend in the Lobby! Shaun Blackie plays Live in the Lobby from 5:30pm. Social Hour runs 5:00pm–6:00pm with discounted drinks and the perfect start-of-weekend atmosphere 🍹
📍 Don Street, below The Langlands Hotel.

Speight's Ale House 🎶🍻 Metua live from 5pm–8pm! Get in early for dinner, stay for the music. Good on ya mate. 📍 38 Dee Street.

Waxy's Irish Pub 🎸🍻 Jetset kicking off at 9pm till late! Round up the crew and keep the long weekend rolling. 📍 90 Dee Street.

Arts Murihiku 🎵✨ Small Space Concert — NZ Music Month Celebrate NZ Music Month with Arts Murihiku at Whare Taupua for an evening of acoustic sounds from some of Southland's finest performers. 🕖 7pm | Free 📍 34 Forth Street, Invercargill 📞 021 273 7315 | 📧 [email protected]

Suburbs

The Ave – Sports Bar 🎸🏉 The Hitmen live PLUS rugby on the big screens! Great music, live sport, cold beers — no surcharge ever. 📍 57 Avenal Street.

Newfield Tavern 🎤❄️ Cold Nights, Hot Vocals — Heat One: 'The Warm Up' Think you've got the vocals to heat up winter? Get down from 7:30pm for the first heat of Newfield's winter karaoke competition. Cash prizes, free entry. Also on: Spin the Wheel from 7pm 🎡 (tickets from 5pm) and Dart League meat raffles from 5pm 🥩 📍 Newfield Tavern, Invercargill.