New Zealand Band BORDERLINE Shares New Single & Video + 2026 Tour Dates
BORDERLINE
NEW ZEALAND’S BORDERLINE UNVEIL ANTHEMIC NEW SINGLE “WATCHING IT BURN” VIA EMPIRE
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED
Dates Kick Off April 6 In Los Angeles and Include NYC On April 24
Photo by Tom Grut
Rising New Zealand band Borderline today unveil their anthemic new single “Watching It Burn.” The track sees the genre-blurring quartet go back to their rock roots with a wall of sound and proves why this young band, barely out of their teens, are already carving out a reputation well beyond their years.
“Watching It Burn” is one of our favorite songs,” explains Borderline. “It’s so much fun to play live as a band, especially with the saxophone solo at the end, which Max absolutely crushes. This is the Borderline track we want people to turn up loud and sing while driving with the roof down. It’s about watching something that you’ve worked so hard to build just burn to nothing. Whether it’s someone or something, it's an area so many people can relate to in their own way.”
Listen/share “Watching It Burn” here and watch the video, directed by Tom Grut, here:
2025 saw Borderline make their U.S. debut with six buzzed-about sets at SXSW, followed by headline shows in New York City and Los Angeles. The band now return to North America this spring for a headline tour kicking off April 6 at The Echo in Los Angeles and wrapping April 26 at Songbyrd in Washington, DC. Along the way they’ll stop in Chicago on April 19 and New York City on April 24, among other markets. Tickets are on sale now and all dates are listed below.
Hailing from Auckland, Borderline is Ben Glanfield (guitar, vocals, keys), Jackson Boswell (drums, vocals), Matthew McFadden (lead guitar), and Max Harries (bass). The four musicians and songwriters have been best mates since childhood, releasing their debut single “Spinning” in 2022 as fresh-faced 16-year-olds still in high school. That momentum accelerated sharply last year as they toured around the world and signed to EMPIRE who released their Chrysalis EP, a body of work that moves fluidly between funk-infused grooves, pop hooks, and hands-in-the-air rock anthems.
Lead single "New Romance" became their first track to hit #1 on the New Zealand Hot 20, and each track on the EP charted in the New Zealand Hot 20 as well. The EP charted in the the NACC200 and New Zealand Album Charts, and additional EP singles "Heartbeat" and "When It's Raining" landed on key DSP playlists including New Music Friday, New in Pop and Alt Pop, while earning radio support across Australia (Triple J, SYN), the UK (BBC Radio 1, student radio), and U.S. college stations.
Building on that foundation, Borderline closed out the year with "Terrify" and a New Zealand arena tour supporting Teddy Swims, continuing a global trajectory that is only just getting started. They kicked off 2026 with the single "Tainted," and it was named 'Track of the Week' on BBC Introducing.
Borderline tour dates
4/06 — The Echo — Los Angeles, CA
4/07 — Voodoo Room at HOB — San Diego, CA
4/09 — Rickshaw Stop — San Francisco, CA
4/11 — Fox Cabaret — Vancouver, BC
4/12 — Baba Yaga — Seattle, WA
4/16 — 7th St. Entry — Minneapolis, MN
4/18 — Shank Hall — Milwaukee, WI
4/19 — Schubas Tavern — Chicago, IL
4/20 — Lager House — Detroit, MI
4/21 — The Baby G — Toronto, ON
4/23 — Middle East Upstairs — Boston, MA
4/24 — Mercury Lounge — New York, NY
4/25 — Philamoca — Philadelphia, PA
4/26 — Songbyrd — Washington, DC
Follow Borderline here:
