Chapterhouse

CHAPTERHOUSE ANNOUNCE FIRST-EVER AUSTRALIAN/NEW ZEALAND TOUR PERFORMING WHIRLPOOL IN FULL CELEBRATING ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY

Shoegaze pioneers Chapterhouse will tour Australia and New Zealand for the first time ever in February 2027, celebrating the 35th anniversary of their landmark debut Whirlpool. The band will perform the album in full, alongside a selection of classics and fan favourites.

Formed in Reading in 1987, Chapterhouse were always ahead of their time acid-rockers before acid house, shoegazers before grunge, dance-rock experimenters before Britpop. Their breakthrough single ‘Pearl’, featuring Rachel Goswell of Slowdive, remains one of the era’s most audacious tracks. Its fusion of shimmering guitars and beats inspired by John Bonham and Schoolly D helped push indie music into bold new territory. Slowdive’s Christian Savill recalls those early Chapterhouse shows as “some of the best I’ve ever seen”.

Released in 1991, Whirlpool is a defining shoegaze record, created with Cocteau Twins’ Robin Guthrie and ranked #17 on Pitchfork’s Best Shoegaze Albums of All Time. Its follow-up, Blood Music, has since been embraced as a visionary fusion of rock and electronica, inspiring artists across the electronic landscape.

After disbanding in 1995, Chapterhouse returned for a one-off festival performance in 2008 blossomed into a full-blown reunion the following year, with tours in the UK, US and Japan and years before the wider shoegaze revival. Now, 35 years on from their iconic debut, the band finally brings their immersive, genre-shaping sound to Australian audiences.

Chapterhouse, 35 Years of Whirlpool. First-ever Australian/New Zealand tour. A long-overdue celebration of a timeless album and a highly influential band.

- Main Venue: +64 9-970 9700
- Ticketing Information: +64 9-358 4275

- Located at main entrance
- Valid photo ID required
- Pickup begins 1 hour before event start time
- Tickets available under purchasing name

There is no public parking available on site. You cannot drive into Spark Arena. 7,000 public car parks are located within a 1.5km radius of the arena. During events, the surrounding streets will have no stopping restrictions.

Special Needs Assistance: Inclusivity is essential, so if you have specific accessibility requirements please contact info@tuningfork.co.nz in advance, and we'll ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Catering: All food and beverages consumed at The Tuning Fork must be purchased from within the venue. Entry Conditions: Entry to The Tuning Fork is based on your full agreement with these basic Conditions of Entry, designed with everyones safety and comfort in mind. Management reserves the right to refuse entry to any person, and to remove from the premises, without refund, any person who violates any of the conditions listed below. We also reserve the right to inspect any bag and/or articles of clothing via screening equipment and/or bag search checks. No ticket refunds or exchanges will be provided in case of violation of these conditions. Customer Safety: Obey instructions from our uniformed staff at all times. The movement of customers within our premises is monitored by CCTV cameras. You may also be photographed for training or promotional use. Rights to all such footage stay with The Tuning Fork. You may only occupy the area and/or seat indicated on your ticket. Do not attempt to enter a restricted area. Climbing on barricades and crowd surfing are not permitted. Shoes must be worn at all times. Behaviour & Etiquette: Drink Responsibly: Anyone intoxicated or using drugs will be removed from the building without recourse. Use of Devices: Use of smartphones or other devices must not cause distraction or annoyance to others. iPads, tablets, and laptops may not be used in the bowl during events. Unruly Behaviour: Unruly and antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, verbal/physical abuse of staff and other customers, attempting to enter a restricted area, climbing, defacing, littering, throwing objects, blocking thoroughfares or fire exits. Prohibited Items: Alcohol in any type of container Bottles of any kind, cans, glass containers Gang patches or colours Firearms, fireworks, flares, laser lights Weapons of any kind, mace, tasers Illegal substances Musical instruments, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, bicycles, sporting equipment Marker pens, spray paint, tagging equipment Signage and promotional products Animals other than guide dogs Professional type cameras & other video or audio recording equipment (this may vary from event to event; please refer to the event page for details) Commercially branded food and drink (e.g., fast food) Steel-toed boots Selfie sticks A Note on Alcohol: The following are the only accepted forms of ID for the purchase and consumption of alcohol: A valid passport New Zealand Driver Licence Hospitality New Zealand 18+ card Alcoholic beverages must not be taken in or out of The Tuning Fork. You may not supply alcohol to anyone under 18 on our premises. Anyone intoxicated will be removed from the premises and will not be readmitted.

Children Supervision: Children under the age of 14 must be supervised by a responsible adult while on the premises.