Balu Brigada – Portal Tour

Balu Brigada are undoubtedly one of the most exciting bands from New Zealand right now. With their breakthrough song “So Cold”—which has now been streamed over 51 million times on Spotify—the band reached number 1 on the Alternative Radio Charts in the USA, performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and was featured on the FIFA 2025 soundtrack. In 2025, they toured the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the UK as support for Twenty One Pilots, making their catchy sound—a blend of indie, surf rock, grunge, and alt-pop—a global sensation with energetic live shows. After releasing four EPs and a compilation album, Balu Brigada’s long-awaited debut album, “Portal,” was released at the end of August 2025. Diffus magazine subsequently featured the band in a profile, calling them “the next big thing” and comparing them to The Strokes, early Tame Impala albums, and Gorillaz. In April 2026, Balu Brigada will embark on their first headline tour in Germany, performing live in Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne.

Balu Brigada formed in 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand, from brothers Henry (vocals & guitar), Charles (drums), and Pierre Brigada (keyboards), along with their school friend Guy Harrison (bass). Over time, the band evolved into a duo consisting of Henry and Pierre, who, after several single releases and initial shows in New Zealand, signed with Warner Music Australia and Atlantic Records in 2022. Balu Brigada began developing their uniquely multidimensional sound, a blend of modern indie and alternative pop, on their 2022 debut EP, “I Should Be Home.” Their next album, “Find A Way,” followed in 2023 and included another fan favorite, “Designer.” In 2024, the single “So Cold” was released, a game-changer for Balu Brigada and their most successful song to date. Having already garnered international media acclaim for their sound, the band was invited by Twenty One Pilots to join them as special guests on their Clancy Tour, giving their energetic live shows a global platform. The single “Backseat” became Balu Brigada’s next hit in May 2025. At the end of August, they solidified their success with their debut album “Portal,” which showcased the band’s sound in its entirety for the first time and brought them to Europe in the spring of 2026.