Fat Freddy’s Drop

Doing it for the love of music, Fat Freddy’s Drop takes to the Michael Fowler Centre stage in May 2026. They’ll be there for three nights performing their ground-breaking debut album, ‘Based On A True Story’. The tour will mark the first live performances since the sudden death of founding band member Chris ‘MU’ Faiumu.

Lead singer Dallas Tamaira says, “It’s important for us to honour the intentions we had with MU and playing this album live is part of that.” ‘Based On A True Story’ was independently released in 2005. It became Aotearoa’s longest-charting album with 111 weeks in the Top 40. It also won eight NZ Music Awards and took out Giles Peterson’s Worldwide Music Awards in the UK.

Twenty years later, the band’s unique funk and roots style has become a defining sound of Aotearoa. “[Based On A True Story] was the band’s first full-length studio album, and its success was the springboard for what has been an incredible journey together,” explains saxophonist Scott Towers. “We want to pay tribute to the music, to MU, and the band he established. And, of course, to play to our fans around the world who have supported us through everything.”