Dónal Gunning & The Bucks Bring Raw Indie Folk to Paisley Stage

By Alyssa | WhatsOn music and nightlife writer Alyssa tracks the gigs, festivals, club nights and late-late plans worth leaving the house for.

Dublin-born, Aotearoa-grounded singer-songwriter Dónal Gunning is steering his full-band outfit, The Bucks, into Napier South for a crucial stop on the No Other Option album tour, putting one of the country's most compelling cross-pollinations of Celtic narrative grit and driving indie-rock directly onto the floorboards of Paisley Stage. Touring a record forged across continents, Gunning brings a nuanced lyrical weight that cuts straight through the noise of cookie-cutter indie releases, pairing bittersweet traditional cadence with the jangly, urgent pulse of modern alternative rock. Securing a club date like this is a major coup for Napier's gig circuit: it represents the sharp end of New Zealand's touring calendar, where songwriters choose sweat, proximity, and nuanced acoustics over sterile barn-sized venues.

Celtic Storytelling Meets High-Gain Rhythms

Expect an atmospheric sonic clash where acoustic chime meets the warm growl of overdriven valve amplifiers. The Paisley Stage room is tailor-made for this brand of roots-laced indie: low ceilings, draped velvet, and an unvarnished sonic fidelity that lets every syllable of Gunning's Dublin drawl ring true without drowning in room echo. When The Bucks lock into rhythm, the performance pivots effortlessly from hushed, pin-drop storytelling—rich with diaspora melancholy and lyrical precision—into thunderous, bar-shaking refrains that demand lifted glasses and stomping boots. The air invariably fills with the faint, comforting aroma of craft malt, vintage upholstery, and stage haze, giving gig-goers the sensation of stumbling into a secret cellar session tucked somewhere between Temple Bar and the Pacific rim.

The pacing of the live set showcases the full dynamic span of the No Other Option catalogue. Early numbers lean into crisp fingerpicking and rhythm-section restraint, pulling the audience tightly toward the low-rise stage before the guitars kick up a gear. As the evening deepens, the rhythm section hits heavier, unleashing driving basslines and rousing chorus hooks that turn seated spectators into an arm-in-arm standing mass. It is music built on human stakes, making the live delivery raw, kinetic, and utterly devoid of studio gloss.

The Intimate Haven on Hastings Street

Hawke's Bay possesses its share of cavernous halls and sunlit vineyard lawns, but Paisley Stage remains the living, breathing heart of Napier's grassroots band culture. Run by musicians for anyone who actually cares about live performance, the Hastings Street venue strips away the pretentious velvet ropes of metropolitan nightlife in favour of worn leather couches, fairy lights, vintage lamps, and an authentic speakeasy warmth. Here, the boundary between band and punter dissolved years ago; you are close enough to catch the eye of the drummer and watch the sweat gather on the fretboards.

The room reliably draws a dedicated cadre of music purists: seasoned Hawke's Bay gig veterans who remember every tour stop through the provinces, alongside younger indie heads, local players sizing up the pedalboards, and wandering travellers drawn off Marine Parade by the sound of live snare crack echoing down the street. It is a crowd that actually listens when the dynamic drops, then roars back when the final chords crash out. There is no background noise or casual chatter drowning the subtleties; when an artist steps up here, the room commits entirely to the ride.

Know Before You Go

• Secure your spot early via the Eventfinda booking portal, as the boutique capacity of Paisley Stage means high-profile album release shows often hit door capacity well before the headliners strike their opening chords.
• Doors are scheduled for 20:00, and turning up right on time ensures you grab a prime vintage armchair near the front or a clear standing sightline close to the sound desk.
• Parking along Hastings Street South and the surrounding side streets is generally straightforward and free in the evenings, but spaces immediately outside the venue fill quickly.
• Paisley Stage operates an intimate bar stocked with local craft brews and regional wines; card payments are accepted at the bar counter.
• The venue features flat, street-level access directly off Hastings Street, but the floor fills up quickly once the supporting sets get underway, so arrive early if you require dedicated seating.

Make a Weekend of It

Napier South provides a brilliant springboard for an extended weekend itinerary, pairing nocturnal live music with coastal strolls and heritage sights. Start your afternoon with a brisk walk along the gravel shores of Napier Beach, letting the Pacific breakers clear your head before heading into town. From the foreshore, it is an easy stroll toward the base of the hill, where you can absorb the region's artistic foundations and regional history inside the gallery spaces of Kahukura Hawke's Bay Museum.

Before the gig calls you to Hastings Street, venture up to Bluff Hill Lookout for panoramic twilight vistas across the port, looking out over the curve of Hawke Bay as the sun sets behind the ranges. For your pre-show feed, make your way over to the bustling Ahuriri waterfront for cold pints and fresh seafood along the deck at The Thirsty Whale Bar & Restaurant, soaking up the harbour atmosphere before heading into the warm, dusky refuge of Paisley Stage for a loud, unforgettable night of indie-folk storytelling.

Catch you by the soundboard—Alyssa for What's On Hawke's Bay.