Six60

Six60 is a New Zealand pop rock band formed in Dunedin, Otago in 2008. The band consists of Matiu Walters (lead vocals, guitar), Ji Fraser (lead guitar), Chris Mac (drums, bass guitar), and Marlon Gerbes (guitar, bass guitar, synthesiser). Their self-titled debut album was released on 10 October 2011 on their own label Massive Entertainment. The album was produced and mixed by Tiki Taane and debuted at number one in the New Zealand charts and was certified gold within its first week of release. Their first two singles "Rise Up 2.0" and "Don't Forget Your Roots" reached number one and number two respectively on the RIANZ singles chart and were both certified double and triple platinum. In 2018 the band won five Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards and were the most streamed artist by New Zealanders on Spotify. On 23 February 2019, Six60 became the first New Zealand band to play a sold-out concert at the Western Springs Stadium, to a crowd of 50,000 fans. On 24 April 2021, Six60 played the first concert at Auckland's Eden Park Stadium, to a crowd of 50,000 fans. It was the closing of the Six60 Saturdays country-wide tour and the largest concert of 2021. In February 2024, founding member Eli Paewai left the band, citing his "personal journey with music is coming to an end". Six60 was formed in Dunedin; the founding members met while attending University of Otago. The band created their name from the street number of the house they lived at in Dunedin, 660 Castle Street. As Ji Fraser said, "That's where it all began. It was the beginning of everything. It was a place that meant so much to us." In July 2021 the band bought 660 Castle Street and created four $10,000 performing arts scholarships at the University of Otago. Their local following developed from Dunedin to other student hubs around the country such as Auckland, Waikato, Christchurch and Wellington. Six60's original EP, released in 2008, contained a track called "Someone to Be Around". This track was left off their debut album but remains one of their most popular songs. Six60 have a quadruple platinum number-one debut album with triple platinum-selling single "Don't Forget Your Roots", two double platinum-selling singles "Only to Be" and "Rise Up", two platinum-selling singles "Forever" and "Special", and one gold-selling single "Lost". In early March 2013 the band was featured on George FM Breakfast's 'Damn! I Wish I Was Your Cover' series covering Rudimental's "Feel the Love". In 2014, their song "Run for It" was featured on the trailer of ITV drama series Prey, starring John Simm. Chris uses a MOOG Voyager / Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay bass guitars. Matiu and Ji both play Fender Strats, Gibson Les Paul electric guitars, and Gibson and Maton acoustic guitars while Marlon uses an MS2000 / Muse VIP / Fender Strat. Eli plays KDrums drums.[citation needed] Matiu's younger brother Niko Walters debuted as a musician in 2019, and has performed as an opening act for Six60. In October 2025, SIX60 announced the launch of a new country and roots music festival called Sweet Home Aotearoa. The event took place on 3 January 2026, at Matakana Country Park in New Zealand. Organized by the band itself, the festival aims to celebrate diverse musical influences and bring together artists from across genres. The festival marks a significant expansion of SIX60's role in the New Zealand music scene, not only as performers but also as curators and promoters of live music experiences. Six60: Till the Lights Go Out is a 2020 documentary film, directed by Julia Parnell, highlighting the bands humble beginnings to reaching global success. "Purple" did not reach the top 40 of the New Zealand Singles Chart, but peaked at number 3 on the Heatseekers chart. "Knocking at Your Door" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 6 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. "Always Beside You" did not enter the Official Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 7 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart. "Universe" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 12 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. "Tahi" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 11 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. "Hang On" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number eight on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. "Nobody Knows" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 11 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. "Say It Now" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number seven on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. "Pepeha" (live acoustic) did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 21 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. "Forever" (live acoustic) did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 17 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. "Someone to Be Around" (live acoustic) did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 18 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. "Rivers" (live acoustic) did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 12 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. "Knocking at Your Door" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 10 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. "Enjoy the View" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 5 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. Hepburn, Steve (11 September 2010). "Rugby: Field Matenga's chosen stage". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 19 June 2015. "Six60 founding member Eli Paewai to leave the band". RNZ. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024. "'So grateful' – SIX60 drummer Eli Paewai to leave band". 1 News. Retrieved 5 February 2024. Weaser, Laura. "Interview: Matiu Walters – SIX60". Rip It Up. Retrieved 9 June 2014. "Discography Six60". Recorded Music NZ. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 October 2021. "Six60 reign as most-streamed local artist on Spotify". Stuff. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2019. "Hours before Six60 take to the stage for record-breaking concert". The New Zealand Herald. 23 February 2019. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 23 February 2019. Kerr-Lazenby, Mina (24 April 2021). "Six60 at Eden Park: 50,000 fans flock to Auckland stadium for inaugural concert". Stuff NZ. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 25 April 2021. "Six60 founding member Eli Paewai to leave the band". RNZ. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024. "'So grateful' – SIX60 drummer Eli Paewai to leave band". 1 News. Retrieved 5 February 2024. Bailey, Thomas. "Six60". Retrieved 9 June 2014. Gallagher, Sarah (20 February 2014). "It was the beginning of everything". Retrieved 6 February 2018. "Tomato sauce, broken glass and beer – inside Six60's $1.7m flat purchase". Stuff. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021. SIX60: Till the Lights Go Out (2020) – IMDb, 26 November 2020, retrieved 28 November 2020 "Six60 EP". Retrieved 9 June 2014. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Prey | Full Trailer | ITV". YouTube. "Run for It". Spotify. 7 February 2014. Thorne, Richard (2020). "Niko Walters: Escape To The Neighbours". NZ Musician. Retrieved 17 April 2022. Tetlow, Max (8 December 2020). "For Niko Walters, the pressure doesn't change the passion". The Spinoff. Retrieved 17 April 2022. "Niko Walters – Vicious Love". Mai FM. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022. https://blog.ticketmaster.co.nz/music/six60-announce-new-country-roots-festival-sweet-home-aotearoa-3549 "Discography Six60". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 14 October 2022. "New Zealand album certifications – Six60 – Six60 (1)". Radioscope. Retrieved 16 December 2025. Type Six60 (1) in the "Search:" field and press Enter. "New Zealand album certifications – Six60 – Six60 (2)". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024. "New Zealand album certifications – Six60 – Six60 (3)". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024. "New Zealand album certifications – Six60 – Castle St". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024. "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 20 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026. "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry