Wānaka band Power Chutes has played before thousands of people at the TSB Stadium in Wellington and Spark Arena in Auckland, after an invitation from USA rock band Highly Suspect.

Highly Suspect frontman Johnny Stevens invited the Wānaka band to open for them in Wellington after front row fans tossed the singer some Powder Chutes merch during the American band’s recent Christchurch show. 

“Well turns out I’ve been hearing about this band for at least a year from NZ fans,” Johnny said on social media.

“So…we’re gonna have ‘em drive their asses out here (Wellington) and open up the stage tomorrow night.”

Powder Chutes (Archie Orbell - drums, Clarke West - guitar, Henry McConnell - vocals, and Otis Murphy - bass) went down so well in Wellington that Highly Suspect invited them to Auckland to open for them again. 

Half-way through the Auckland set, Johnny called singer Henry to the stage without warning and asked him to sing the American band’s biggest hit, ‘Lydia’. Clarke also climbed onstage and took over on guitar, and Otis took over on bass, while drummer Archie grooved along waiting for his chance. 

The young band members received an ecstatic reception from the crowd.

Powder Chutes was formed when the members were Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College students.

Their music has been described by NZ Musician Magazine as having “a modern grunge feel, mixed with punk angst and hard rock".

Powder Chutes has opened for The Feelers, Dolphin Friendly, Big Sima, East York, Pull Down The Sun, Pieces Of Molly, and The Jordan Luck Band. 

They also opened the 2023 Gibbston Valley Summer Concert for ZZ Top, Pat Benatar, Stone Temple Pilots and The Angels to 18,000 people and played the main stage at the 2024 Burning Horse Festival.

Powder Chutes’ latest single, ‘Scalpel’, has just dropped.