Bluesfest Tours Announces The Pogues, Rum, Sodomy & the Lash 40th Anniversary

Bringing the spirit of Bluesfest to stages across New Zealand, Bluesfest Tours are proud to present one of next year’s most anticipated Bluesfest artists - The Pogues, who will perform three New Zealand sideshows nationwide, celebrating 40 years of their iconic album Rum, Sodomy & the Lash. 

The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy & the Lash 40th Anniversary

Wednesday 8 April - St James, Wellington

Thursday 9 April - Town Hall, Christchurch

Saturday 11 April - NZICC Theatre, Auckland

All tickets on sale now through Ticketmaster

Now, for the first time in 35 years, The Pogues return to New Zealand to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of their seminal album Rum, Sodomy & the Lash — performed in full alongside beloved favourites.

Featuring original members James Fearnley, Jem Finer and Spider Stacy, this special line-up unites acclaimed guest vocalists Daragh Lynch, Iona Zajac, John Francis Flynn, bringing one of folk-punk’s most influential albums back to life. Ranked among Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, the 1985 classic features A Pair of Brown Eyes, Dirty Old Town, and A Rainy Night in Soho.

The Pogues are just one of the many world-class artists performing as part of Australia’s Bluesfest 2026 line-up, who have collectively sold tens of millions of albums, earned multiple GRAMMY Awards and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honours, and defined generations of live music.

The Pogues’ New Zealand tour and Bluesfest return promise a rousing, soul-stirring celebration of one of modern music’s most enduring legacies.