New Zealand audiences will see a homegrown star set the tone before Sophie Ellis Bextor delivers her hit filled live show.

Ella Monnery has been confirmed as the opening act for Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who will perform two shows in February.

The concerts are scheduled for Tuesday 3 February at the BNZ Theatre in Hamilton and Wednesday 4 February at the James Hay Theatre in Christchurch.

Monnery will open the shows with her energetic stage presence, ahead of Ellis Bextor performing a set featuring her well known hits from the 2000s alongside new material from her latest album Perimenopop.

Monnery rose to national prominence in 2018 and has since performed at some of the country’s largest music festivals including Rhythm and Vines, Homegrown, Electric Avenue, Rhythm and Alps and Mardi Gras.

She has also fronted major acts including SACHI and SYNTHONY and performed internationally as a solo artist in Singapore, Mexico, Greece and the Netherlands.

Her career has continued to expand into recorded music, with charting releases in New Zealand and collaborations alongside artists including Lee Mvtthews, Kings, P Money, Ekko and Sidetrack and Sly Chaos.

She has also become a familiar voice through performances of the national anthem, co hosting on George FM radio and building a large following on TikTok.

Ellis Bextor emerged as one of the most successful British pop artists of the early 2000s, achieving global success with songs including Murder On The Dancefloor, Get Over You and Take Me Home.

Her debut solo album Read My Lips reached number 2 on the United Kingdom charts and established her signature sound influenced by disco and synth driven pop.

Her career has spanned seven studio albums across a wide range of styles, and her music saw renewed international attention in 2023 after Murder On The Dancefloor featured in the film Saltburn and was later covered by Royel Otis.

The renewed interest introduced her music to a new generation of listeners.

Tickets for the New Zealand shows are selling quickly. More information and tickets are available through Live Nation.