Teddy Swims Brings Soul, Tears and a Toilet Throne to Auckland’s Spark Arena

Teddy Swims walked into Spark Arena like 12,000 people had just been invited to group therapy, but with better lighting and one hell of a soundtrack. His Auckland show on the 9th of October felt less like a pop concert and more like a collective emotional release, delivered by a man who sounds just as good (if not better) than his records.

There was so much love in the room. Couples cuddled and swayed through ballads, arms wrapped around each other during “God went crazy” and “Northern Lights”. But the crowd wasn’t just made up of romantics, there were fans of all ages, groups of mates, solo gig-goers, and a front row full of signs, hats and even posters being handed up mid-song for Teddy to sign. And he did, all while singing…

That’s part of what made this show feel so different. His connection to the crowd was deep and present. From the first track to the last, his voice didn’t falter, not even slightly, but it was the way he made everyone feel seen that lingered most. At one point, early on in the set, he called for the lights to go up and told everyone to hydrate. “I want you to look after yourselves,” he said, reminding us this was more than a show. “This tour’s called I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy… and I have been to therapy. It’s great,” he laughed. But honestly, the whole concert was a kind of therapy, in the best kind of way.

Before “Some Things I’ll Never Know”, Teddy shared a story about his ex and what it means to find closure, not through the other person, but through your own healing.
“I feel like when someone leaves your life, they don’t give you a lot of closure… You may never get the answer or the closure from the person. But I’d say I found closure within, when I finally decided it’s out of my control. And I started to learn to accept the things that are out of my control. I learnt that some things are better on the other side.” He said it softly, like he was speaking directly to each person in the room, and you could feel the entire venue hold its breath.

That moment could’ve been the emotional peak, but of course, real life crept in. Mid‑speech, Teddy paused and pointed to some commotion: “Hey, there’s a fight going on over there… we don’t fight at a Teddy Swims concert.” It was handled with care, and he kept the focus on kindness and calm. It didn’t derail the moment, it made it even more real.

One of the most joyful moments came unexpectedly, halfway through the show, he disappeared, then returned seated like royalty on a toilet throne. It was hilarious, absurd, and completely on brand. “Your Kind of Crazy” followed, and somehow, it made sense. The crowd loved it.

Then, with the lights dimmed and the room hushed, Teddy looked out and said, “I’m gonna sit my tubby ass down if that’s alright. For the next three songs, I’m going to be a bit more intimate.”
He shared that his three‑month‑old son was in Auckland with him, his very first passport stamp was a New Zealand one. He spoke about his incredible partner, and how much mothers do for their children. “We should respect them more,” he said, before easing into “Need You More”. It was one of the night’s most tender moments.

From there, “Black & White” flowed into “Small Hands”, and as he sang, Teddy became visibly emotional. It wasn’t staged or polished, it was raw and genuine. He wiped his eyes and kept singing, and the entire arena stayed with him.

Vocally, he never slipped, not once. Tracks like “Guilty” and “The Door” had the crowd screaming, but it was the softness in those quieter moments that reminded everyone why Teddy’s voice hits so hard.

The setlist was long, Taylor Swift Era’s tour long, but no one was checking the time. Twenty‑five songs covered the spectrum of love, loss, healing and everything in between. Fans even got to choose one track from a stack of cards as part of his jukebox, landing on Shania Twain’s “Still the One”, which Teddy covered with full heart. And earlier in the night, he gave a beautiful nod to Aotearoa New Zealand by performing a snippet of Six60’s “Rivers” before easing into “Guilty”. The crowd went wild. It’s clear that New Zealand holds a soft spot for him.

It takes something special to make Spark Arena feel intimate, but Teddy did it. Between the stories, the signatures, the powerhouse vocals, the toilet humour, and the moments of deep stillness, this was a concert that felt less like watching a star and more like being invited into someone’s actual heart.

His next stop is Australia and there are still a few tickets left, you won’t regret it.

10/10 no notes needed!

Here’s the full setlist from Teddy Swims at Spark Arena, Auckland:

1. Not Your Man
2. Hammer to the Heart
3. Apple Juice
4. She Loves the Rain
5. Are You Even Real
6. Devil in a Dress
7. Bad Dreams
8. Free Drugs
9. Funeral
10. What More Can I Say
11. 911
12. Need You More
13. Black & White
14. Small Hands
15. All That Really Matters (ILLENIUM cover)
16. Some Things I’ll Never Know
17. Northern Lights
18. Rivers (Six60 cover)
19. Guilty
20. God Went Crazy
21. Still the One (Shania Twain cover)
22. Your Kind of Crazy
23. Lose Control
24. Bed on Fire
25. Goodbye’s Been Good to You
26. The Door