Cold Chisel to headline Gibbston concert in January

Cold Chisel are celebrating their 50th anniversary and are bringing ‘The Big Five-O’ tour to an iconic Queenstown summer gig to celebrate.

The Australian rock royalty have been announced this morning as the headline act at the Gibbston Valley Winery Summer Concert in January.

Their trip across the ditch will bookend a sell-out Australian tour to celebrate their big anniversary.

After the legendary Jimmy Barnes underwent open heart surgery in 2023, the rocker admitted he never thought he'd see these milestone performances come together.

"The Big Five-0 is a landmark moment. There have been plenty of times where I never thought I'd live to see this day so I'm going to make the most of it.

"I can't wait to celebrate with my mates and with all the fans who have been such a big part of our story. We're gonna smash it.” 

Piano player and chief songwriter Don Walker says the band is going all out.

"We’ll be doing a set which reaches back across our whole song catalogue, which should all make The Big Five-0 a tour to remember."


Guitarist and singer Ian Moss says fans can expect to hear the most popular hits in the setlist.

"There are a minimum of 15 songs that our audience demands to hear. This time we'll be playing all of them plus we'll be throwing in lots of musical surprises."

Also locked in to take to the stage at the concert are iconic Kiwi-Aussie band Ice House lead by Iva Davies, known for hits Great Southern Land, Hey Little Girl, and Electric Blue, Kiwi singer-songwriter Bic Runga, whose first single Drive in 1996 catapulted her to fame, and 90s alternative rock band Everclear, who've released 12 Top 40 Hit Singles including Santa Monica and Father of Mine.

The 2025 tour will be the 15th anniversary of the concert series, which has become a fixture on the summer event calendar. Last year, more than 12,000 concert-goers attended the Queenstown event.

Greenstone Entertainment chief executive Amanda Calvert says the line up celebrates 15 years of bringing people together with music.

More than 12,000 concert goers flocked to Queenstown's Gibbston Valley Winery Summer Concert in February 2024.

"The Summer Concert Tour has cemented itself as an annual pilgrimage where friends get together and enjoy some of the best music of our lifetime.

"To think that over the years we have entertained so many people at our shows, hosted over 42 musical legends, had a massive economic impact on regional towns, and have made friends with so many great people along the way.

"We are so looking forward to the 2025 Summer Concert Tour and delivering our best concert series yet.”

The tour will play in Queenstown on Saturday, January 18, and in Taupo on Saturday, January 25. It will also make a return to the Coromandel performing in Whitianga on Sunday, January 26.

Locals in Queenstown can secure limited locals tickets from 9am Thursday, June 27 from the Gibbston Valley Winery and Queenstown and Wānaka i-Sites.

One NZ customers can also be among the first to secure tickets during a 24 hour presale for all shows, starting 10am Thursday, June 27 (one.nz/music), while Greenstone Concert Club members have priority access to pre-sale tickets from 10am, Thursday, June 27.

General public tickets will be on sale 12pm Monday, July 1. 

Ticket prices start from $159, plus booking fee.

Main image (Supplied/Daniel Boud): Australian rock royalty Cold Chisel.