BILLIE MARTEN STUNS AUCKLAND WITH AN INTIMATE AND ETHEREAL PERFORMANCE

LIVE REVIEW | Billie Marten w/ Maple Glider | The Powerstation Auckland 10th February 2026

English singer Billie Marten graced the stage at Auckland’s Powerstation on 10th February 2026, marking her return to New Zealand in support of her most recent album Dog Eared. The quiet, introspective record translates effortlessly to an intimate live setting, and the Powerstation proved to be the perfect space to deliver tracks from such a tender body of work. The night served as a testament to Marten’s artistry, where her delicate songwriting and effortless vocals combined to create a calm and ethereal atmosphere.

The evening was opened by Australian pop singer Maple Glider, who set the tone beautifully from the outset. Beginning her set with ‘Mama It’s Christmas’, Maple Glider immediately drew the room in, establishing a sense of warmth and ease with just herself up on the stage. Her stage presence was effortless and endearing, with moments of gentle humour woven between songs as she chatted openly with the crowd. One of the standout moments of her set was ‘Baby Tiger’, which she announced was Billie’s favourite song of hers. She talked through the reason behind the song, and linked previous relationships to the songwriting process, being completely open and honest with the audience. This added an extra emotional resonance, allowing the crowd to connect more deeply with the story behind the music. Her stripped back cover of ‘You’re Still the One’ was another highlight, where the crowd were free to join in on singing along and in doing so immediately livened up the room. Throughout her set, Maple Glider spoke lovingly about Billie Marten, the tour, and the team behind it, her gratitude palpable. By the time she left the stage, the room felt calm, attentive, and perfectly prepared for Billie’s set. 

When Billie Marten stepped into the spotlight, accompanied by her guitarist and drummer, the atmosphere shifted instantly. A collective stillness settled over the crowd as she began to play, her soft yet assured vocals filling the space with ease. She kicked off her set with a single from Dog Eared called ‘Feeling’, it’s an utterly beautiful track and was the perfect opener to a night of divine and delicate music. There was something strikingly intimate about the way she held the room effortlessly, each song delivered with care and confidence. What felt particularly special from the start was the way the audience responded to Billie’s set. Despite clearly knowing the words, fans sang along gently and quietly, being careful not to overpower Billie’s voice and still hear her vocals to the best of quality. 

Halfway through the set Billie’s band left the stage for her to do her solo part of the performance, the first chords of ‘Vanilla Baby’ had the crowd quietly screaming with excitement as they swayed and sang along. This was a beautiful part of the set and during songs Billie chatted openly with the crowd. Her personality shone through naturally and her interactions with the crowd were endearing and funny, punctuated by dry humour and reflections on past experiences. Similarly to Maple Glider, these moments brought lightness to the set and gave the crowd a laugh inbetween their singing. Before an encore, Billie sang fan favourite ‘I Cant Get My Head Around You’ and the crowd gladly joined in to sing along louder this time, ending her set with ’Swing’.

Billie Marten’s Powerstation show was ethereal, comforting, and unambiguously captivating. Her ability to command a room with such gentleness was breathtaking, reinforcing the emotional depth and sincerity that define her work. For long stretches of the set, the room felt completely absorbed, no distractions, just shared focus and reverence for the beautiful music unfolding on stage. It was a night marked by connection and stillness, one that left the Auckland crowd visibly moved and deeply appreciated. 

About the Author

Amanda McEachen

Contributor

View All Posts