Twilight at Taronga is thrilled to host Aotearoa New Zealand’s finest purveyor of folk-country-pop, Marlon Williams.
With a sound that traverses bluegrass, country, folk, gothic synth-pop and traditional Māori rhythms, this Christchurch born singer-songwriter has proven to be one of NZ’s most distinctive and electrical musical exports of the past decade.
Williams burst onto the scene with his 2015 self-titled debut – a collection of slow-burning ballads, alt-country and bluegrass that landed in the Top 10 and drew critical acclaim along with comparisons to legends like Gram Parsons, Roy Orbison and Nick Cave. He followed up with the chart-topping album ‘Make Way for Love’ (2018) and the exuberant classic album ‘My Boy’ (2022) which served up sunny synth pop and what he called the “Māori disco” of the title track. In 2025 Williams celebrated his connection to culture with the lauded LP ‘Te Whare Tīwekaweka’ an ode to love, life and connection, sung entirely in te reo Māori.
On stage, Williams is a force of nature. His theatrical swagger and undeniable vocal firepower take his shows to the next level – one minute he’s stripped back to just voice and acoustic guitar, the next he’s grabbing the mic stand and spinning across the stage like Elvis possessed.
With a wild and winning combination of raw talent, genuine humanity, humour and warmth, Marlon Williams is truly one of the most mesmerising artists you’re ever likely to witness! Don’t miss him at Twilight at Taronga!