Mermaid Bait
Whangārei’s original originals band. Since 2014, Mermaid Bait has grown from a three-piece into a 10 to 12-piece marching band, playing ska-flavoured, brass-loaded songs about seafaring, adventure, kiwi pastimes and good mates. Catch us at home at The Woodshed on the Hātea Loop, on festival stages around Aotearoa, or anywhere our sound-system dinghy, Sweetpea, can be towed.
New Releases
New single out on 07.11.26 via sqeaky wheels
Out of the Ether
The first single from Mermaid Bait’s upcoming album, “Songs from the Hātea” (out May 2027).
Some songs take months to write. “Out of the Ether” just showed up, and Mermaid Bait named it accordingly. It’s a sun-soaked ska track that pulls you out the door and onto the open road. Skanking guitars and a restless rhythm carry you over mountain ridges to the wildest highs, then down to the coast to cool off in the Northland seas. It’s a love song made of shared adventures, full of colour and movement, and the joy of saying yes to wherever the day takes you and whoever you’re taking with you.
Artwork by Rosie Parsonson (Rosy & Rich).
Cover design by Eursula Fleig.
Available on all streaming platforms 07.11.26
whats new
We’ve signed to Sqeaky Wheels!
sqeaky wheels
We’re stoked to announce that Mermaid Bait has officially joined the Sqeaky Wheels whanau & label.
Our story with label boss Marcos Alonso started as a friendship. That turned into making music together in 2024, when he remixed our song “Begging Dog”. Then at Shipwrecked in 2025, we gatecrashed his set, and it was one of our favourite moments on stage. The connection has only grown since, and joining his label felt like the natural next step.
“Out of the Ether” is our first release on Sqeaky Wheels, and it’s out on 7th Nov 2026. There’s plenty more to come as we head towards our new album, Songs from the Hātea, in 2027.
Ngā mihi, Marcos, for backing us. Here’s to the next chapter.