Taylor Swift fans unable to make it across the ditch to see The Eras Tour now can experience some of her music live right here in Aotearoa, thanks to six talented Tauranga teens and their music teacher.

The group took matters into their own hands when they realised hundreds of thousands of Swifties had been left disappointed that Taylor Swift wasn’t performing her Era’s tour in New Zealand, and formed Sunkissed, a Taylor Swift tribute band, to bring a touch of Tay Tay to the Bay and possibly beyond.

Music teacher at Papamoa College, Kurt Somervell, says he had a light bulb moment last year when listening to some of his students playing a Taylor Swift cover, and hearing the extremes people were going to so they could see their favourite pop star live. 

“I put two and two together. The girls already knew a lot of the songs, and it was obvious there was high demand for live music from Taylor Swift, so we officially formed the tribute band and got practicing.”

“I had been doing lighting for other tribute bands at Totara Street music venue in Mount Maunganui and thought, yeah, this is definitely something we would be up for.”

It was about the same time his wife, Julz, was starting to wonder what was going on with her heavy metal loving husband, when she came home to him learning drums to Taylor Swift songs.

“She’s used to me listening to Rage and Tool, so she was certainly intrigued that I’d taken a sudden liking to Taylor Swift until I explained to her what I had in mind.”

Putting on his teaching hat, Kurt says the project is helping the students learn all about what It takes to put on a live show beyond the simple pub gig, working out things like the financial viability of the show, stage presence and memorising dozens of song lyrics and chords.

By the time the band performs their first official gig at Totara Street music venue in Mount Maunganui in March, they would have put in hundreds of hours of practice over nine months.

As far as Kurt, who plays drums in the band, is aware, Sunkissed is the only Taylor Swift tribute band in New Zealand at present.

The seven-piece band will play a two hour set including songs from all albums. 

They will perform two shows. The show on Saturday, 2 March, is an R18 event, while the show on Sunday, 3 March, is an all ages event so that people of all ages can immerse themselves in the magic of Swift's iconic sound.

The band includes Kurt; country music artist Cybele Chapman, who released her first album on Spotify at just age 13; talented up-and-coming singer songwriter, Stella Riley; Videl Harrison, who has a voice that would rival any Disney princess; man of many talents and lead guitarist James Ferns, who many will recognise from his theatre performances; Taylah Medeiros, bringing Lana del Ray vibes and her own unique style to the band; and natural-born bassist Tamara Dutoit.

Kurt believes all the band members have a bright future in the music industry if that’s the path they choose. 

So head along to watch Sunkissed perform live, and say you saw them first - before they hit the big time!

Taylor fans not based in Tauranga can rest assured if there is demand for more shows around New Zealand, Sunkissed will take their tour to other parts of the country later this year.

Tickets are available from www.totarastreet.co.nz – click events and search for Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift Tribute - Performed by SUNKISSED - Totara Street