Kinstock 2026 has managed to sign a wealth of local music talent for its seventh staging.
“I think I’ve got the hottest line-up for Kinstock that we’ve ever had,” says event organiser and Kinloch Families Trust chair Belinda Walker.
Performers at the koha-entry event, which runs 1-6pm, Saturday, January 31 at the Kinloch Domain include singers from Act 2, SmokeFree Rockquest solo/duo regional winner Mikayla Edwards, SFR Rotorua regional finals band winners Pocket Watchers as well as Pseudo Psychosis, Sonorous (local act at the Summer Concert in 2025) and Fairly Obvious, fresh from their performance at the Riverside Amphitheatre as part of this year’s Summer Concert Series.
New this year will be a Kids Market at which local young entrepreneurs can set up a stall in the Kinloch Hall, says Walker.
The range of products on offer will be “quite extraordinary” she says, from plum jam to 3D printing to jewellery.
The cash only market is a chance for participants to try out their business, she says, free to have a stall, but if they taste success, it’s likely they will also make a koha to the cause – funds for the operational running of the kindergarten that operates out of Kinloch Hall.
“Some of them are raising money for the school overseas trips that are coming up. I know Taupō-nui-a-Tia College are off to France again with the history and French groups… so it’s really great to have a nice safe place for kids only and where we can all support them.”
Taupō District Council will also be joining the event to run a community consultation session from 1-4pm as part of the review of representative groups in the district.
And unlike the threat of rain, thunderstorms and hail that hung over the Summer Concert, Walker says she is confident for the first time in three years that she doesn’t have to think about putting alternative dates in.
“There’s sunshine either side of the date, so it’ll be even good if it moves a bit.”
She said the Trust is always grateful to its sponsors – Creative Taupō and key corporate sponsor Seven Oaks.
“This year we’ve had Seay Earthmovers come on board to help fill the gap and we’re grateful for Bayley’s Real Estate, the previous sponsor, for helping us out.”
This story first has also appeared on LakeFM Kinstock 2026 draws top line up of local acts and in the Taupō and Tūrangi News What’s On: Kinstock, monster garage sales and more — Taupō & Tūrangi News | Local Central Plateau Taupo and Turangi News Source
Picture: Pocket Watchers
