Hire Us

We’d love to play for you!

We welcome the opportunity to perform in parades, festivals, corporate and private functions, so feel free to call us for a booking or to find out more information. You can hire us as a group of drummers and dancers, or you can hire us as a group of drummers only – it’s up to you.

Wellington Batucada wins Arts & Culture category at Wellington Community Awards 2019

Call Gordon Cessford on 021 548 477, or email the group on wellingtonbatucada@gmail.com

Check out our gig reviews. These demonstrate the range of gigs you can book us for, and what to expect when we play for you.

(Some of) Wellington Batucada’s performances

Event Date(s) Location
100 Days to the Paralympics May 2016 Wellington
Arohata Prison workshops and shows September-December 2019 Wellington
Aro Valley Fair March 2021 and [2022] Wellington
Asakusa Samba Carnival August 2018 Tokyo, Japan
All Blacks victory parade – Rugby World Cup 2011 October 2011 Wellington
All Blacks vs Australia – Bledisloe Cup 2013 August 2013 Wellington
All Blacks vs Ireland – Steinlager Series 2022 July 2022 Wellington
All Blacks vs Springboks – Tri-Nations Rugby Tournament 2010 July 2010 Wellington
All Whites vs Mexico – FIFA Soccer World Cup Qualifier November 2013 Wellington
Asia Pacific Outgames March 2011 Wellington
Birthday parties October 2019 Wellington
Brazilian Carnival March 2013 Raumati Beach
Brazilian Party at The Grand March 2014 Wellington
Brazil National Day September 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Wellington
Charity Ball, Te Papa June 2013 Wellington
Chile/Mexico Independence Day September 2013 Wellington
City of Song Festival February 2020 Upper Hutt
Coastlands Carnival November 2019 Paraparaumu
CubaDupa March 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, [2020], 2021, [2022] and 2023 Wellington
CubaSonic at CubaDupa March 2021 Wellington
Cuba Street Carnival February 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2009 Wellington
Cultural Food Fair – Miramar Central School March 2023 Wellington
DANZdance20 November 2013 Wellington
EFTPOS Christmas Party December 2012 Wellington
El Barrio Carnival February 2012 and 2023 Wellington
Festival of Carnivale – Rugby World Cup 2011 September-October 2011 Wellington
Fete de la Musique June 2011 and 2012 Wellington
Footvolley Championship March 2013 and February 2016 Wellington
Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival October-November 2006 Wellington
Harcourt’s Conference May 2021 Wellington
Hastings Blossom Festival September 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Hastings
Homegrown Music Festival February 2008, 2009 and 2014 Wellington
International Dance Day May 2013, [April 2020] and May 2021 Wellington
International Rugby Sevens February 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Wellington
International Samba Festival, Coburg July 2013 and 2014 (with London School of Samba), July 2015, 2017 and 2019 (as Wellington Batucada) Coburg, Germany
Island Bay Festival Parade February 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, [2022] and 2023 Wellington
Island Bay Playcentre Fundraising Gala September 2012, November 2013, 2014 and 2015 Wellington
Jackson St Fiesta March 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Petone
Jambalaya Festival of Rhythm and Dance Easter 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008, January 2011, Easter 2012 Taupo, Rotorua and Auckland
Johnsonville Santa Parade December 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, [2013], 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, [2019], 2020, [2021] and 2023 Johnsonville
Kapiti Strawberry Festival November 2013 and 2014 Paraparaumu Beach
Kokomai Creative Festival October 2013 Masterton
K-Road Carnival September 2003 and December 2004 Auckland
Life Flight Trust Open Day March 2020 Wellington
Lions Tour 2017 July 2017 Wellington
Lord of the Rings The Two Towers – New Zealand premiere December 2002 Wellington
Lumino Festival November 2022 Wellington
Luscious Lola 1 November 2002 Wellington
Luscious Lola 2 October 2003 Wellington
Luscious Lola’s Booty Shaker August and September 2004 Wellington and Auckland
Mary Potter Hospice collection day May 2016 and 2017 Wellington
Mexican ‘Day of the Dead’ dance and cultural event October 2020 and 2022 Wellington
MIA Latin Festival November 2012 and 2013, October 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Wellington
Michael Campbell victory parade August 2005 Wellington
Middle Eastern Community Group October 2020 Wellington
Mt Cook School Gala March 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Wellington
Multicultural Festival in celebration of Chinese New Year January 2021 Wellington
Nelson Arts Festival October 2010 Nelson
NewDowse Gallery opening February 2007 Lower Hutt
Newtown Fair March 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, April 2021, [2022] and 2023 Wellington
Ode to the Moon multicultural show September 2019 Lower Hutt
Open Street Sunday October 2013 Wellington
Oporto store opening February-March 2013 Wellington
Out in the Park March 2016 and 2017 Wellington
Pablo’s Art Auction November 2022 Wellington
Parihaka International Peace Festival March 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Parihaka
Party in Pink October 2012 Wellington
Petone Winter Carnival July 2008 Petone
Philippines Disaster Fundraiser November 2013 Wellington
Pride Hikoi February 2020 Wellington
Pride Parade March 2018 and May 2019 Wellington
PSA (Public Service Association) Centenary celebrations October 2013 Wellington
Race Relations Day April 2017 Wellington
Red Cross New Zealand – National Meeting November 2020 Wellington
ReelBrazil November 2009 and September 2010 Wellington
Relay for Life March 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, [April 2020], 2021 and [2022] Wellington
Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games launch December 2016 Wellington
Round the Bays February 2020 and 2021 Wellington
Rugby League World Cup Quarter Finals November 2017 Wellington
Sambanui Batucada at the Dowse April 2013 and 2014 Lower Hutt
Scots College Centenary – staff celebration April 2016 Wellington
Seven Sharp May 2013 Wellington
Silver Ferns vs Malawi – netball test October 2013 Wellington
Soccer World Cup (Brazil) – opening game June 2014 Wellington
St Francis de Sales School workshop October 2012 Wellington
St James Theatre – grand re-opening July 2022 Wellington
St Patrick’s Day Parade [March 2022] Wellington
Summer Sampler February 2023 Wellington
Summerset Group Christmas Party December 2020 Wellington
Taco Addicts food van launch September 2019 Wellington
Tapu Te Ranga Marae December 2016 Wellington
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Mokopuna March 2012 Wellington
Te Rā o te Raukura Festival February 2014, January 2017 and February 2019 Lower Hutt
Te Reo Week launch parade July 2016 Wellington
Te Papa’s 10th Birthday celebrations February 2008 Wellington
The Menagerie Variety Show July 2018 Wellington
Toots and Grooves Ska Festival January 2008 Horowhenua
Trade Aid International Fair Trade Day/World Fair Trade Day Global Party May 2010 and 2012 Wellington
Unite Against COVID – TV ad April 2021 Wellington
Upper Hutt City Summer Carnival February 2015 Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt Xmas Parade December 2015 Upper Hutt
Wairarapa Balloon Festival – Night Glow March 2012 Masterton
Walking Stars Wellington November 2019, 2020 and [2021] Wellington
Weddings September 2015 and November 2019 Wellington
Wellington International Jazz Festival with Carlos Ferreira November 2003 Wellington
Wellington Latin Carnival March 2003 Wellington
Wellington Lantern Festival February 2020 and [2021] Wellington
Wellington Phoenix A-League Soccer – home games 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018 Wellington
Wellington Santa Parade December 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Wellington
Whanganui Festival of Cultures October 2013 and 2014 Whanganui
WOMAD (Gables stage) March 2015 New Plymouth
WOMAD Kidzone workshops March 2007 and 2008 New Plymouth
World of Wearable Arts parade September 2005 and 2006 Wellington
WW1 Armistice Day Commemoration November 2018 Wellington
Xmas Party @ San Francisco Bath House December 2012 Wellington

Dates in [square brackets] were cancelled, generally due to bad weather or COVID 19.