KEY POINTS:
The domestic gate lounge at Auckland Airport is a far cry from a top concert venue, but yesterday Dave Dobbyn was happy to play there.
Dobbyn belted out his Welcome Home anthem - among other tunes - to travellers as part of the launch of Air New Zealand's new initiative to play 100 per cent New Zealand music in its gate lounges and airbridges.
Kiwi music videos will also be shown on board Air New Zealand's fleet of 14 domestic 737 aircraft.
Bronwen Anderson, who was on her way to Wellington yesterday, said it was "about time" New Zealand musicians got the support.
"He's pretty bloody fantastic, isn't he?" she said.
For Monica Elliott, 18, the surprise concert preceded her first trip on an aeroplane.
Her sister Bridget Elliott, 19, gave the soundtrack a tick following a trip to Fiji on another airline where the same song was played "over and over".
Dobbyn, whose set was followed by performances from Goldenhorse, Tiki and The Electric Confectionaires, welcomed the move.
"I never would have dreamed of this years ago," he said. "You would have had to be pushing something uphill to get New Zealand music played in airport lounges."
It was his first gig in an airport gate lounge, apart from the odd impromptu jam while waiting to board.
He plays an encore performance at Auckland airport today , with Jordan Luck and Opshop also in the line-up.
Performers will also be at Christchurch airport today, while next Friday it's Wellington's turn.
