Rumpus Machine is an award-winning sibling rock band from Torbay / the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. They specialize in high-energy live performances of classic rock covers (spanning the 1950sβ1990s) alongside their own guitar-driven original material, blending elements of rock, funk, blues, metal, and what they sometimes describe as βKiwi rock reggae blues.β
Band Members and Background
The four-piece consists entirely of siblings from the Hyde family:
- Daniel Hyde (lead vocals and guitar; the oldest, finishing secondary school around 2025).
- Matthew Hyde (guitar and backing vocals).
- Hannah Hyde (bass and backing vocals; twin).
- Ashley Hyde (drums and backing vocals; twin).
They formed in 2020 (during/around COVID lockdowns in New Zealand), building on earlier informal guitar lessons from their father starting around 2015. Early practices involved learning songs together, developing tight harmonies, and eventually adding a full band setup (including a borrowed drum kit and family bass). They have no formal music training beyond self-teaching via family, YouTube, and live experience, yet they emphasize longevity from the sibling dynamic (βyou canβt kick anyone outβ).
They have become a hard-working gigging act with hundreds of live shows (pubs, festivals, private functions, weddings, corporate events, and community gigs). Online, they have built a substantial following (hundreds of thousands across platforms) and accumulated tens to over 100 million views on covers and originals, particularly through short-form video and YouTube.
Achievements and Notable Performances
Key highlights include:
- Strong results in youth competitions: Rockquest North Shore winners (multiple years), national placements (3rd in 2024 Rockquest Nationals, 2nd in 2025), SUSO (Auckland Council) winners, NZ Battle of the Bands placements, and other songwriting/performance awards (including the Pat McMinn Rising Star Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand in 2025).
- Major festival and support slots: Opened for Cold Chisel, Icehouse, Everclear, and Bic Runga at the Greenstone Summer Concert in TaupΕ (January 2025) to a crowd of around 17,000β18,000. Other appearances include Beach Hop (multiple times, main-stage slots), Soundsplash, Music in Parks (multiple), Cruzβn the Bayz / Mangakino Lake Hop, Takapuna Rocks, Kerikeri Christmas in the Park, KΕwhai Festival, Legacy Fest, NZ Music Month events, and more.
- Shared stages with acts such as Jordan Luck, Hello Sailor, Tadpole, Skindred, and The Mad Caddies.
- Regular pub and outdoor gigs across Auckland and the North Island, often with their own PA and lighting.
Their website and social channels list ongoing bookings; they provide professional sound and lighting and adapt (e.g., electric or acoustic drums) for different venues.
Connection to βCity of Lightsβ / Festival of Lights
Rumpus Machineβs official materials explicitly list The Festival of Lights among their festival performances and headlining credits, alongside Beach Hop, Cruzβn the Bayz, Takapuna Rocks, and others. This appears to be the most direct link to the βCity of lightsβ phrasing in your queryβlikely a reference to (or shorthand for) that event, or a related lights-themed festival appearance in the Auckland region or nearby. New Zealand hosts various βFestival of Lightsβ or Diwali/lights-oriented community events (including North Shore Diwali celebrations), and the bandβs energetic outdoor/festival style fits well with such settings. No widely documented original song or album titled exactly βCity of Lightsβ by them appears in major listings, though their originals (available on Spotify and similar platforms) include tracks such as βSomeday,β βSummer Daze,β βThe Energy,β βMagic Man,β βWho Cares,β βFly Away,β and others.
Music and Style
- Covers: High-energy renditions of iconic tracks (examples from live sets and videos include material associated with AC/DC, The Eagles, Queen, The Doors, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B-52βs, Stray Cats, and many others from classic rock eras). These often drive their online popularity.
- Originals: Guitar-based modern rock with strong live energy, harmonies, and youthful drive. Released as singles; available on streaming platforms. Competitions have encouraged their original songwriting.
- Live shows mix covers and originals, frequently running multiple sets or full evenings. They emphasize fun, tight musicianship, and audience engagement.
Where to Find Them
- Official site: rumpusmachine.com (bookings, bio, videos).
- Social/video: YouTube (@rumpusmachinenz β strong short-form and full live clips), Instagram/Facebook/TikTok (@rumpusmachinenz), Spotify artist page.
- They remain active with regular Auckland-area and regional gigs (pubs, outdoor festivals, private events). Check their channels or local gig guides (e.g., Under the Radar, Eventfinda, or venue pages) for current dates, as schedules update frequently (examples from recent periods include Music in Parks, beach/cafΓ© outdoor shows, tavern residencies, and festival after-parties).
