The Powerstation

Was here to see the Finn Family Christmas show the other night and I have to say The Power Station is my favourite venu in Auckland to see live music. I give real props to the owners as they never seem to oversell the venue so even in a sold-​out show you don’t feel like people are rammed into the place. Easy to move around, find a place to dance and the bar is quite accessible and usually well-​staffed. The only reason that you will want to get there early is if you want to be upstairs and get a spot on the railing to look down to the floor and the band. I also really appreciate that they have good ventilation so it doesn’t get too hot and there is always some fresh air being pumped in. I have probably seen 15 – 20 shows here over the years and I’m always stoked when a band I like has chosen this venue.

I always get really excited when a band I love announces they are playing at The Powerstation. It’s the perfect mid-​sized venue. Not too big that it feels empty, or the sound is too tinny, and not so small that you’re spending the whole time frustrated at people’s hair in your face.
I’ve seen a number of great bands here ranging from pretty mellow music to raging nights. There is a seated circle around the top, which numerous musicians see as a challenge. By this I mean they scale the stage and clamber their way around the whole of the top of the venue while belting out a tune. Awesome.
There is a pretty large bar at the back of the venue so you can float in and out of the crowd for drinks before, during and after the show. There is also a little area to the side which they use for merchandise sales.
Great venue, good times

I actually had my first kiss in the moshpit of The Powerstation when I was but a young thing. It was electric (yes that was an attempt at a pun).
I can’t actually remember the details, they are pretty fuzzy, though I do remember this certain amour had a mullet and a red ute. Ah young love!
But onto the actual venue. It is awesome that is all.
Many musical greats have graced the Powerstations stage in its time, and it’s always a point of pride to be able to say ‘yeah I totally saw that artist (Insert name here) at the powerstation back in (insert date here), that set was totally rockin man!
From local faves like Six60, love these boys! To international superstars like Rita Ora happening next week.
The powerstation is a personal viewing experience and is nothing like the Vector Arenas of event venues, it’s gritty and rough around the edges and it has soul.

A classic Auckland venue. Big enough that there is still a raging atmosphere but not so big that there is a disconnect between the performers and the crowd, the Power Station offers its stage to the renown of famous international acts, and the energy local up and comers alike. Many a memorable night at the Power Station, perhaps most memorable of all was the performance of the rock band Ween. Had been listening to this band since I was a kid, I used to have their cassette tapes on high rotation. To finally see them live, after over 10 years of listening to their music, was absolutely phenomenal. When these guys played at the Power Station they must have been well into their forties, they played for three and a half hours solid, couldn’t believe how good they were.

One of the staple venues of Auckland’s live music scene, The Powerstation on Mt Eden Road caters to those small-​to-​medium sized gigs where the band is big enough to pull a crowd but not so big that the experience becomes impersonal. The intimate scale is the Powerstation’s strength — it’s not huge, you can see the whites of the eyes of the band members, and the energy in the moshpit gets pretty thrilling when the place is full. Otherwise, not a lot else to write home about — the décor is very black and it’s all standing room only, so if it’s not something loud with plenty of distorted guitars then it probably isn’t going to work here.

Many nights of my youth were mis-​spent here and I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was when I heard a few years back that they were running 80s Nights on Fridays. That never quite seemed to pass and I was never too sure how it would quite work anyway.
Now the Powerstation is back doing gigs but sadly I’m older and the mosh-​pit has lost its appeal. In fact, I recently got my Band of Horses tickets refunded when they moved the venue from the Town Hall to here. I probably would have kept them if they’d given me a discount but when you pay what you do for concerts, the venue matters.
The Powerstation is a totally fine setting for medium sized standing room only gigs, particularly when full. If the crowd is a bit sparse then the whole feeling can be a bit sad. It particularly suits loud grunty bands but perhaps that is just my personal history skewing my view. On the plus side it’s intimate and oldies like me can still find a few seats upstairs if you’re lucky. It’s a big black space where bands play, and it has a mezzanine floor and two bars — there’s not much more to say.

Most of the nights I’ve spent at the Powerstation have dissolved into very dim memories, punctuated with snapshots of trying to jump off the balcony or get a free drink from the bar. However, what I remember of the venue itself is great — it is well set out, with two seperate bars (cash only downstairs) and a seperate viewing area upstairs, which is good if you don’t want to get stuck in the crowd — or you want to be able to see the band a bit better.
As is the case with most venues, you will have a good night if you are going to see a band you really want to see — and if it’s someone you don’t really care for, then the prices on drinks will probably mean you wont want to stay very long.

The Powerstation is the perfect venue for gigs and concerts. Though plenty big enough to host popular bands and musicians, it is still small enough to maintain an intimate atmosphere and enable you to really connect with whoever it is you’re seeing.
Despite not being located in Auckland CBD, or being a high-​priced venue, The Powerstation attracts all sorts of performers and musicians, including international heroes like Band of Horses, Rita Ora, MGMT and local favourites Six60 to name a few.
I first went to The Powerstation as a young teenager for a dance-​type party that was regularly held there, and even back then tickets sold out fast and the line to get inside went around the block. Nothing has changed — The Powerstation is still known for its great atmosphere, ample bar, good sound system and acoustics and fun dance floor.
If you ever get the chance to see a live act perform at The Powerstation, don’t hesitate — buy the ticket and have a great night!

The Powerstation is my absolute favourite concert venue, to the point where I will be more inclined to buy a ticket for an artist that I am not an absolute fan for, because I just know the setting is so great for a concert. I recently saw Robyn at the Powerstation, one of my all time favourite musicians, and it truly felt like I was partying with her and dancing with her because you are just so close to the stage, you can see the sweat. If you aren’t keen on being in the crowd, you can hang out upstairs and watch from the balcony.
I have never had trouble with the toilets, the queues at the bar move fine too.

I’ve been to a few smaller gigs at this venue and I must say I quite like it. It has an upstairs balcony part where there are seats to chill out and watch the stage from above, or you can hang out down the bottom closer to the action (and the bar). That’s the beauty of a small place like this; the bar is never too far away.
I saw Shihad play here and the sound inside the Powerstation was deafening. I could barely hear for the rest of the night. The venue is located on the outskirts of the city centre, but it’s all good because Galbraith’s ale house is directly opposite. Not a bad idea to pop in there for a few quality beers before the show (because you’ll be drinking crappy beers for the rest of the night).