Kiwi music lovers will be in for a rare treat this summer as Kora and Katchafire double their playing powers on a co-headlining tour, serving up a double-shot of Aotearoa’s finest roots, rock and reggae across the North Island.

While each band has superb studio work to their name, the proof in the pudding is their rock-steady live performances, which have won both bands a diehard fan base. A show from Kora or Katchafire alone is a must-see live music experience – together on the same stage, this is a line-up that must be witnessed by every New Zealand music lover.

Kora is brothers Brad, Francis and Stuart Kora, and brother-in-arms Dan McGruer. Their future-shocked fusion of funk, dub, metal and psychedelia is a sound formed by an unshakable fraternal bond; so unique that they had to coin their own genre, “alien funk”. Hailing from Whakatane, Kora built their audience and reputation with an epic live show, one that has brought them a cult audience worldwide.

Waikato sons Katchafire are the undisputed titans of Aotearoa roots reggae, true skank superstars both here at home, throughout the Pacific, and along the West Coast of the United States. A relentless touring schedule sees the seven-strong unit play 49 weeks out of every year, racking up an impressive playing history that has made them the nation’s tightest live outfit. Today, after hundreds of gigs and four classic albums, Katchafire are road warriors whose music is guaranteed to hit you with no pain.

This is the bucket-list live tour of the 2013/2014 summer. Be sure to cross it off as Kora and Katchafire light up the holidays.