Sam Buckingham

DOORS OPEN 7:00

SHOW START 8:00

Since releasing her career defining album DEAR JOHN in 2022, Sam Buckingham has built a cult

like following on the Australian live circuit.

She’s lapped the country six times on sold out headline tours and jumped on tour with some of

the countries biggest names like Paul Kelly, Kate Miller-Heidke, The Whitlam’s and Ben Lee. She’s

also played at Woodford, Wild Village and Queenscliff Music Festivals and toured with the Festival

of Small Halls.

2026 sees the release of Sam’s new album “Beautiful Machine”, a cross-Pacific collaboration

with Australian-born Nashville-based producer Clare “LOLLIES” Reynolds.

Sam says the songs for Beautiful Machine were written on hikes, beach walks, lying on the

couch in her underwear and on long drives to see her family (while someone else was driving, of

course). They mark a new chapter in her songwriting career, and in her life.

“I’ve been falling deeper in love with my body and the Earth” says Sam. “In a time when we’re

seemingly obsessed with building ‘bigger and better’ technology, all I can think about is how the

natural world is so brilliantly designed — it’s the most beautiful machine we’ll ever have. So, this

album is a love letter to myself, my body, the earth and all of humanity. As we keep progressing,

my only wish is that we remember we ARE the natural world — and we must care for ourselves

and each other accordingly.”

Influenced by the lyrical honesty of Jensen McRae, Brandi Carlisle & Ani DiFranco, the anthemic

energy of Maggie Rogers, and the rhythmic flow of artists like LaRussell and Connor Price, Sam’s

unique sensibility for marrying poetry with pop shines as she effortlessly weaves her personal

truth into the fabric of the global zeitgeist.

The 2026 Beautiful Machine tour will see Sam tour New Zealand for the first time, treating

audiences to crowd favourites from her previous releases - DEAR JOHN, Cyclone and Quiet

Revolution - and premiering the stunning new album in an intimate acoustic setting.

“Masterful songwriting” - Kate Miller Heidke

“Iconic” - Kia Handley (ABC)

“Powerful” - Bernard Zuel

"Byron Bay's next big thing" - Courier Mail

- Main Venue: +64 9-970 9700
- Ticketing Information: +64 9-358 4275

- Located at main entrance
- Valid photo ID required
- Pickup begins 1 hour before event start time
- Tickets available under purchasing name

There is no public parking available on site. You cannot drive into Spark Arena. 7,000 public car parks are located within a 1.5km radius of the arena. During events, the surrounding streets will have no stopping restrictions.

Special Needs Assistance: Inclusivity is essential, so if you have specific accessibility requirements please contact info@tuningfork.co.nz in advance, and we'll ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Catering: All food and beverages consumed at The Tuning Fork must be purchased from within the venue. Entry Conditions: Entry to The Tuning Fork is based on your full agreement with these basic Conditions of Entry, designed with everyones safety and comfort in mind. Management reserves the right to refuse entry to any person, and to remove from the premises, without refund, any person who violates any of the conditions listed below. We also reserve the right to inspect any bag and/or articles of clothing via screening equipment and/or bag search checks. No ticket refunds or exchanges will be provided in case of violation of these conditions. Customer Safety: Obey instructions from our uniformed staff at all times. The movement of customers within our premises is monitored by CCTV cameras. You may also be photographed for training or promotional use. Rights to all such footage stay with The Tuning Fork. You may only occupy the area and/or seat indicated on your ticket. Do not attempt to enter a restricted area. Climbing on barricades and crowd surfing are not permitted. Shoes must be worn at all times. Behaviour & Etiquette: Drink Responsibly: Anyone intoxicated or using drugs will be removed from the building without recourse. Use of Devices: Use of smartphones or other devices must not cause distraction or annoyance to others. iPads, tablets, and laptops may not be used in the bowl during events. Unruly Behaviour: Unruly and antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, verbal/physical abuse of staff and other customers, attempting to enter a restricted area, climbing, defacing, littering, throwing objects, blocking thoroughfares or fire exits. Prohibited Items: Alcohol in any type of container Bottles of any kind, cans, glass containers Gang patches or colours Firearms, fireworks, flares, laser lights Weapons of any kind, mace, tasers Illegal substances Musical instruments, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, bicycles, sporting equipment Marker pens, spray paint, tagging equipment Signage and promotional products Animals other than guide dogs Professional type cameras & other video or audio recording equipment (this may vary from event to event; please refer to the event page for details) Commercially branded food and drink (e.g., fast food) Steel-toed boots Selfie sticks A Note on Alcohol: The following are the only accepted forms of ID for the purchase and consumption of alcohol: A valid passport New Zealand Driver Licence Hospitality New Zealand 18+ card Alcoholic beverages must not be taken in or out of The Tuning Fork. You may not supply alcohol to anyone under 18 on our premises. Anyone intoxicated will be removed from the premises and will not be readmitted.

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