Hostile Witness – Funk and Soul band from Auckland

Out of the ashes of an eventful law firm Christmas party in the early 2010s came “Hostile Witness” – the greatest funk, soul and disco covers band consisting almost exclusively* of lawyers in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Over the years members have come and gone, partners have been made and children have been born. In 2025, Hostile Witness is made up of eleven talented legal musos, reliving their glory days and bringing the funk to liven up any conference, corporate function or private party dance floor. 

Hostile Witness features a killer three-piece horn section, epic vocal harmonies and a lock-tight rhythm section with guitar, bass, keys and drums. Hostile Witness draws its musical inspiration from the glam and funky days of the 70s and 80s, with splashes of more contemporary numbers and some medleys thrown in to keep things interesting.

You can expect a laundry list of dance floor bangers that will keep attendees going all night long. From Stevie Wonder to Earth Wind & Fire, Paul Simon, Amy Winehouse and Fat Freddy’s Drop, Hostile Witness has you covered.

To get in the mood, check out some live recordings from Hostile Witness at their Soundcloud page below, or follow their Instagram for more content:

Stream Hostile Witness NZ music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud

https://www.instagram.com/hostilewitnessnz?igsh=eGwxcTVka2pkb29u

*A couple of the members aren’t technically lawyers, but they know a few and the band was desperate at the time and, like any good lawyer, chose to overlook the fine print to get the deal across the line.