Jim Beam Homegrown turns 20 with a first lineup packed with Kiwi heavyweights

Aotearoa’s biggest celebration of Kiwi music, Jim Beam Homegrown, has dropped its first lineup announcement – and it’s coming in hot, with some of the country’s biggest names set to take over Kirikiriroa Hamilton in 2027.

Leading the first wave are Fat Freddy’s Drop, Sir Dave Dobbyn, Shapeshifter, Gin Wigmore, Savage, The Exponents, Devilskin and Full Metal Orchestra which brings the orchestra-meets-live-music spectacle to rock and metal, turning some of the genre’s biggest anthems into a huge, immersive concert experience.

Twenty years after taking the stage at the inaugural Homegrown, Tiki Tane, Elemeno P, Opshop, Dick Johnson, Sunshine Sound System and Kora are also back on the bill to mark two decades of the all-Kiwi music festival.

They’ll be joined by other Kiwi favourites including DJ Sir-Vere, Tadpole, Jon Toogood, Montell2099, Club Sachi and breakout pop artist PRINS who debuted as a Jim Beam Homegrown emerging artist in 2026. Plus, further lineup announcements still to come.

Jim Beam Homegrown CEO Andrew Tuck says the festival has supported 335 artists over 20 years and today its purpose remains the same as it was on day one: to back Kiwi music and give it the stage it deserves.

"To have artists who stood on the very first Homegrown stage 20 years ago now sharing the spotlight with some of Aotearoa’s biggest names two decades later is something truly special. This festival has always been about championing Kiwi music and giving our artists a massive platform to shine."

Tuck says the lineup spans everything from rock to reggae, hip hop to house, with a classic Kiwi singalong or two thrown in for good measure.

“This year we have 15 acts performing at Jim Beam Homegrown that have never played for us before. The breadth and depth of talent in this country is extraordinary, and that's why Homegrown is still going strong two decades later. Five stages, multiple genres and generations of Kiwi music mean there’s something for everyone from 18 to 81."

The festival returns to Claudelands Oval, Kirikiriroa Hamilton on Saturday 3 April 2027.

Festival goers can pre-register for tickets at Homegrown.net.nz

The first line up drop for Jim Beam Homegrown 2027:

FAT FREDDY’S DROP | FULL METAL ORCHESTRA  

SHAPESHIFTER | SIR DAVE DOBBYN | DEVILSKIN  

THE EXPONENTS | KORA | GIN WIGMORE  

 HORI SHAW SHED PARTY | OPSHOP 

TROY KINGI: NIGHT LORDS | SAVAGE | ELEMENO P 

 PIRAPUS | CLUB SACHI | MONTELL2099 | NO CIGAR 

 TADPOLE | JON TOOGOOD | TIKI TAANE | SUB-TRIBE 

P-MONEY ANTHEMS ONLY | CHÉ-FU & THE KRATEZ  

WRITTEN BY WOLVES | DARTZ | HALFQUEEN 

BECCIE B B2B GENERAL LEE | BLACK COMET 

CARU & BRANDN SHIRAZ | DERA MEELAN 

 DICK JOHNSON | PRINS | PIXIE LANE 

 DJ SIR-VERE | AUNTY EL | SEAN HILL 

 SUNSHINE SOUND SYSTEM