Auckland fans were treated this afternoon to a free performance from global superstar Teddy Swims — who is performing at a sold-out Spark Arena on Saturday night.
The US superstar, heard that today was Red Nose Day — a day for Cure Kids to raise money towards research to help tamariki diagnosed with often life-impacting health conditions.
Word of the impromptu gig went out on social media platforms on Friday morning.
Fans young and old turned out to see Swims perform — with many saying they were unable to get tickets to Saturday's sold out show and dropped some cash in buckets being passed around for the worthy cause.
What many fans didn't know was that Swims was being joined by a very special guest.
"The second song I ever did on YouTube was because of the love I [received] from here," he said before springing his surprise.
"This has always been the place that has loved me the most, and been there for me before anybody else was, so I'd love to play this cover for you from this amazing band called Six60."
While singing Six60's song Rivers —a song which he says "started" his career after a cover of him singing the song went viral — he bought the band's frontman Matiu Walters to the make-shift stage as well.
Six60 frontman Matiu Walters joined Teddy Swims at his impromptu Commercial Bay gig. (Source: 1News)
Six-year-old Bea, who's favourite song is Lose Control, said she couldn't go to the show because "mum said I'm not old enough," but was "very excited" to see him at Commercial Bay.
One self-confessed "superfan", Meech, said she has loved Swims since the "lockdown days".
"Love his songs, love his voice, I watch him all the time on YouTube and TikTok, he's amazing.
"I really like his personality — I listen to him being interviewed and he's really humble, really down to earth."
Teddy Swims performs at Commercial Bay. (Source: 1News)
Proof of that humility was on display as he talked to the crowd between songs — "my little heart is beating so fast!" — and he even paused mid-sentence to pose for fans taking photos.
Swims sang for about 30 minutes before heading to the upper floors of the shopping complex to meet some volunteers and child affiliated with Cure Kids.
Cure Kids CEO Frances Soutter said having Swim's perform was a "significant" boost.
"It's really exciting — this was a last minute development for Red Nose, we have Teddy Swims, who is here for a tour, and he was given a heads up that we have a really important fundraising day, Red Nose Day, and so he said 'hey, I'll do a gig and fundraise for you'.
"It's a really significant event in enabling us to fund the research we conduct for children's health. The more money we can raise, the better."
Teddy Swims performs at Commercial Bay. (Source: 1News)
She said having the star perform would help give "visibility to Red Nose Day and what Cure Kids does... we are a really worthy charity because we are looking after the health of our tamariki".
Soutter confessed to being a fan of his music.
Teddy Swims talks 'awful' beginnings — how NZ helped his success
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"I think he is absolutely fantastic and he has some really significant messages around mental health, and that is a really big area of research for us, adolescent mental health... We have a real burden of disease in that area, so the more publicity we can do about looking after mental health, the better."
Watch Teddy Swims speak with Seven Sharp and Breakfast on TVNZ+
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