Northland alt-country duo The Advocators titled their mostly sparse 2024 debut album ‘Songs from an Endless Night’, explaining to NZM that disillusionment was kind of what they were both going through at the time. In late August 2026 Mark Bruce and Leroy Brown unveil their second album, ‘Beyond the Palisade’. Described as a gritty blast of alt country noir, this collection looks well past the blurred, rainy windows of its predecessor, shifting between swamp rock, Americana carnival music, and trademark yearning acoustic ballads. Dasha Koryagina caught up with the pair ahead of its release.
Supporting the release of The Advocators’ debut album saw the duo, who grew up in rural Maungaturoto and Kaiwaka, take their music farther than ever before – playing a run of shows across Auckland, Whangārei and the South Island, including Hokitika, Golden Bay and Lyttelton.
Sharing the bill with Kiwi folk favourites Albi & the Wolves and Just Janie, Mark Bruce (guitar, melodica, BVs) and Leroy Brown (vocals, guitar and banjo) quickly found that their brooding sound as captured on ‘Songs from an Endless Night’, could sway an unsuspecting crowd.
“It was the first time we’d gone anywhere south of Auckland to play music. When we were playing with Albi & the Wolves, who play very lighthearted folk, we’re not sure the crowd was there for us… but we managed to win them over,” jokes Leroy.
As Mark notes, live performances are the biggest driver of the band’s audience growth, and the album tour achieved exactly what the pair had hoped, introducing their music to listeners well beyond their Northland base. It also proved a bonding experience for the musicians – the long car rides providing ample opportunity to discuss many a hot topic.
“It was probably the first time we’d spent a lot of time together outside of practice and just our music,” smiles Leroy. “I spent most of the tour trying to convince Mark to have kids, and I’ve succeeded in that. So there we go…”
Mark welcomed his first child earlier this year – Leroy too is awaiting a new family addition in September. The changes are a fitting backdrop to a new album that marks their sound’s evolution. ‘Beyond the Palisade’ moves away from the cool, raw angst of the first record which was written during a turbulent time for both, towards something more deliberate and warm, optimistic even.
“The first album was more resentful, angry, and disillusioned, whereas this is more of an acknowledging – negotiating with yourself, and moving past things,” Leroy explains.
Recorded over an eight month period at Creative Lab Studio in Whangarei, the album was given more time to develop than their first, the duo taking a slower, more considered as well as collaborative approach in the studio.
“This is definitely a more polished effort,” says Mark. “Our last album we recorded in like three days, and we were looking for a raw, live feel to that, which captured the energy of that time and those songs.
“This time ‘round we thought we’d just chip away at it over time. We would go in and record the basic tracks, and then go away and ruminate on the songs for a while. And, some of them were evolving that whole time. If we’d just got in and recorded them straight, we would have missed a lot of good ideas.”
‘Beyond the Palisade’ introduces Leroy’s songs to a much broader soundscape, the expansion also reflecting the developing connections the pair are making within the industry. They now connect with collaborators who can help bring ideas to life that they couldn’t achieve on their own, as he explains.
“For a long time Mark and I have been playing around with horn lines on a guitar – you know, playing on a guitar what should be a horn line. Now we’ve been able to find someone who can play the horn and can put it on there.”
“The session guys, they take your ideas and make them better,” raves Mark. “You have a rudimentary idea about the horn line, and then you tell it to a horn player, and he’s like, ‘Well, actually, you can’t do that on a trumpet physically… but you can do this,’ and plays something amazing!”
“It’s like when you tell a joke and someone mishears you, and it’s funnier than what you had to say in the first place,” laughs Leroy.
The recording process itself was shaped by Creative Lab studio owner/producer Dan Stenhouse’s patient and flexible approach.
“Dan’s amazing,” says Leroy. “He’d send us back the tracks and allow us time to listen through, change minor things, and try plenty of different ideas before we signed anything off.”
The extra time and care invested in the record has resulted in a more refined sound, but hasn’t softened the qualities that make The Advocators distinctive. Their trademark melancholic tone remains ever-present, with lyrics exploring themes of tragedy, bitter romance, and hard-won self acceptance, as well as some lighter moments.
“We originally tried to write an album that was more upbeat and easy to dance to… and I think we didn’t succeed in that,” jokes Leroy. “The songs oscillate between dark, heavy songs and dark, upbeat songs.”
The album’s first single, One Last Ride, provides a raucous introduction to the record. With an unholy circus-flavoured melody, howling vocals, a dissonant hook and fast-paced arrangement, it carries the same distinctive character that defined their debut album’s Elijah. It was chosen as the lead single largely due to the response it got when played live.
“It’s a riot,” laughs Leroy. “It gets people up and moving, and when we play it it’s a rush!”
The video for One Last Ride offers audiences a glimpse into the people behind the music. Filmed by Mark’s brother Robert Bruce, it was shot in a derelict shed on Leroy’s uncle’s property, across the boundary from his parents’ home. The space, where Leroy has spent years playing music with his cousin, Kiwi musician Elliot Brown, provides the backdrop for a story exploring the tension between creative identity and everyday life.
“You’re trying to be two different people. Who you really are – someone living in this dilapidated kind of hillbilly shack where you see yourself artistically – and then you’re putting on corporate clothes and pretending to be somebody else so that you can go out and provide for your normal life and fit in,” says Leroy. “I admit it’s something I struggle with, finding that balance.”
The second single heralding the album, Little Creeks, reveals a more introspective side of the album. Named among finalists for the MLT Songwriting Award it took the duo all the way south to Gore to perform at the 2026 Country Music Honours event.
“It’s about when I was down in Auckland with my son in hospital, and just feeling stuck in that meaningless wash of the city, wanting to get home to the farm where things are peaceful,” says Leroy. “And, maybe the memories of the farm being better than actually being there!”
The third and fourth singles further revealed their sophomore record’s range. While Draw Me Near takes a slower, dirge-like folk approach, while Another Me positively shifts gears into an upbeat, carnival-inspired feel.
“The album’s quite diverse. There’s lots of different stylistic things happening in it, and so we’re trying to showcase the entire breadth of the album,” says Mark.
With student radio nationwide giving the singles airtime The Advocators are getting noticed.
“The support’s been amazing. The independent stations have really gotten behind the songs,” reflects Leroy. “The fun part is playing live, and being on the radio definitely allows you to get people to the shows.”
This time when the pair are set out on a mini tour to promote the album in early September they’re bringing an entire band with them – a notable change up from the duo format they’ve toured previously.
“I love playing with drums,” Mark says excitedly. “When we play as a duo, sometimes I will be on the stomp or whatever to provide some percussion, but it’s really restricted – I’m quite limited in what I can do. Whereas we’re going to have a six-piece band, maybe even seven at some of the shows. So, it’s just way more multi-dimensional in terms of the soundscape that’s possible.”
Leroy sees the expanded line up as a natural and fitting progression.
“The band’s a reflection of how much bigger this album’s sound is. The first album, we could still do it justice with the two of us. Whereas with this album, we wouldn’t be able to do it on our own anymore.”
