Fiona & The Glow and Tom Maxwell Bring Warm Southern Folk to Sherwood

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

Fiona & The Glow and Tom Maxwell Live at Sherwood Queenstown brings one of the most compelling regional double-bills of the spring straight into Frankton's premier eco-lodge hideaway. Headlined by Wānaka-based songwriter Fiona McMartin alongside her textured live ensemble, this intimate showcase pairs breezy indie-folk grooves and bluesy undertones with the raw, grounded acoustic storytelling of local staple Tom Maxwell. Staged inside Sherwood's acoustic-rich lounge, it is the exact antidote to generic resort entertainment, delivering an authentic South Island soundscape that cuts right to the heart of the region's contemporary indie scene.

Folk Harmonies and Firelit Courtyards

Stepping inside Sherwood on gig night immediately feels different from the booming bassbins of Shotover Street. The room fills with the earthy scent of burning mānuka logs drifting from the outdoor braziers, mingling with wood-roasted dishes and cellar pours from Central Otago's natural vineyards. McMartin's vocals carry an effortless warmth, floating over rhythmic electric guitar lines, expressive bass, and sweeping, soulful hooks that pull the entire lounge into a hush. When Tom Maxwell steps up, the tone shifts into an earthy, unhurried grit, drawing listeners in close with narrative-driven songwriting inspired by the rugged mountains surrounding the Whakatipu Basin. While dinner guests unwind over sharing plates in the adjoining dining room, music lovers gather shoulder-to-shoulder near the stage, sipping skin-contact pinot and nodding along to tight acoustic sets that stretch well into the late evening.

The Southern Lakes Songwriting Circuit

This show taps directly into the close-knit, highly collaborative network of musicians shaping the Southern Lakes region right now. The crowd here is a genuine blend of Wānaka day-trippers, Queenstown hospitality insiders on their night off, and travelling music heads who recognise the calibre of regional talent coming out of this pocket of the country. There is no velvet rope or detached backstage area here; performers and punters mingle freely by the bar between sets, talking guitar pedals, mountain trails, and upcoming summer festival dates. It feels like an elevated living room session where community connection matters just as much as musical precision.

Know Before You Go

• Snap up tickets in advance online via Humanitix, as Sherwood's indoor stage capacity is strictly limited and intimate gigs regularly sell out.
• Arrive at least 45 minutes before the music kicks off to secure prime seating near the stage, or grab a drink outside beside the open-air fire pits before the room packs in.
• Parking on-site along Frankton Road fills fast on show nights, so consider catching the regular Orbus service along Route 1, which stops just steps from the property entrance.
• The venue is fully accessible, featuring level indoor access and accessible bathroom facilities close to the bar area.
• Dress in versatile layers: the indoor listening space stays cosy, but stepping outside into the lakeside courtyard after sundown brings a crisp alpine breeze.

Make a Weekend of It

Make this show the centrepiece of a full Queenstown weekend by grounding your days in the outdoors and the region's best eating spots. Start your morning with a relaxed lakeside wander beneath the willow trees at Queenstown Gardens, or soak up native alpine wildlife up close at Kiwi Park Queenstown. If you want panoramic aerial views of the entire basin before the sun goes down, ride up to Skyline Queenstown for a wide-angle look at the peaks that inspire so many local songwriters. Ahead of door time, grab casual bites and spritzes on the sunny street-side terrace at Yonder, or head into town post-gig to swap gig stories over pints and live pub atmosphere at Pog Mahones Irish Pub & Restaurant.

Catch you by the fire pit with a glass of local natural wine in hand. — Alyssa, WhatsOn Queenstown