Rock Meets Orchestra at the Bowl of Brooklands

NPDC’s Bowl of Brooklands will host an exclusive outdoor concert on Saturday 7 March 2026 as the Mānuka Phuel Full Metal Orchestra Rock Festival brings a groundbreaking fusion of hard rock and heavy metal classics, reimagined with a full orchestra, live band, and guest vocalists. Plus, live sets from some of New Zealand’s biggest rock bands.

From the promoter who brought Synthony to the Bowl in 2021 and 2022, Duco Events is back with another epic production, and the Mānuka Phuel Full Metal Orchestra Rock Festival is not just a concert; it’s an experience that promises anthems, energy, and good vibes in New Plymouth’s legendary amphitheatre.

Concert-goers will be treated to a powerhouse line-up of ACDC’s Phil Rudd, Devilskin, Blindspott, Jon Toogood, plus the Full Metal Orchestra.

Expect electrifying orchestral renditions of rock and metal anthems made famous by AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Tool, Motörhead, Metallica, Nirvana, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses, System of a Down, and more – performed live like you’ve never heard them before.

“I’m excited that another massive show is coming to the Bowl and will help wrap up summer” says New Plymouth Districts Mayor Max. “Events like this are vital to support local businesses, especially given the absence of WOMAD this year.”

Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, CE, Kelvin Wright adds: “The Full Metal Orchestra Rock Festival is sure to turn up the volume for our summer event line-up, and we look forward to working with NPDC to promote this widely. We’re proud to support this event through our facilitation of the major events fund and are sure it will provide a welcome boost for our retailers, hospitality, and accommodation providers.”

“The response to Mānuka Phuel Full Metal Orchestra has been beyond anything we anticipated,” says David Higgins, Founder, Duco Events. “Turning this into a full rock festival was the natural progression and there’s no better place to debut it than the Bowl. This will be a milestone moment for New Zealand live music.”

Ticket Information

Sign up to the New Plymouth Event Venues EDM database here to get access to pre-sale tickets at 10am, NZT, Tuesday 16 December 2025.

General ticket on sale starts 10am, NZT, Thursday 18 December 2025. Tickets can be purchase via Ticketek.co.nz, over the phone at 06 759 6060, or over the counter at the New Plymouth Box Office based at Puke Ariki iSite.

At a glance

• The Bowl of Brooklands is Taranaki's largest and most iconic concert venue and was awarded Large Venue of the Year by the Entertainment Venues Association of New Zealand in 2021
• Situated within the award-winning Pukekura Park, the Bowl is a natural amphitheatre with a permanent stage over the lake and has hosted audiences under the stars since 1958.
• This world-renowned venue holds up to 15,000 and has hosted international headline acts such as Sir Elton John, R.E.M., Fleetwood Mac, Bryan Adams as well as local legends Six60 and L.A.B.
• The Mānuka Phuel Full Metal Orchestra Rock Festival is the third concert announcement for the Bowl’s summer events: Rock the Bowl on 29 December and Kingston Calling with UB40 on 14 February 2026 are already on sale and the venue will also host Christmas at the Bowl on 21 December.
• Mānuka Phuel Full Metal Orchestra Rock Festival at the Bowl of Brooklands is supported through the New Plymouth Major Events Fund, which is facilitated by Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki.