Justin Bieber surprised patrons of a pub in Russell, New Zealand, with an impromptu piano performance, playing instrumental tunes without singing before leaving as fans gathered.
The co-owner of the Duke of Marlborough Hotel confirmed that the singer and some friends arrived unexpectedly, and he treated those present to a purely instrumental performance without performing any of his own songs.
Bieber, 32, even raised the lid of the piano to conceal his identity from other pub-goers, but he did not sing on this occasion.
An Unexpected Musical Moment
"He was just after a few beers and some snacks, and he saw our baby grand piano in the corner, and he just jumped on and started knocking out a few tunes," Duke of Marlborough co-owner Anton Haagh told RNZ.
Haagh said Bieber played "a lot of modern music" but did not sing any lyrics, likely to avoid drawing attention to who he was.
Some people reportedly recognised him but were encouraged to give him and his party space, as it must be tough for a celebrity to be out and about.
Fans Gather and Bieber Departs
However, when 30 or 40 fans caught wind of his random appearance, he quickly decided to leave the premises.
Bieber has been documenting his New Zealand trip on his Instagram page, where fans have commented that he looks really "happy" in every photo and that it "looks good" on him.
He went golfing, swimming, fishing and even boarded a helicopter, from which he saw breathtaking views of the countryside. People noticed, however, that his wife, Hailey Bieber, was not with him on his travels.
Bieber's Career Highlights
Bieber was discovered on YouTube in 2008, and his 2009 debut EP and subsequent album My World 2.0, which featured the hit 'Baby', made him a huge global teen icon.
In 2015, he released the critically acclaimed album 'Purpose,' featuring hits like 'Sorry,' 'What Do You Mean?' and 'Love Yourself'. That same era saw him dominate global charts through high-profile collaborations like the 2017 remix of 'Despacito'.
He then took a brief hiatus to focus on his physical and mental health, returning in 2020 with his fifth studio album, 'Changes,' followed by 'Justice' in 2021, which featured the hit song 'Peaches'.
Though health issues forced him to pause live touring in 2022, he re-emerged with surprise releases SWAG and SWAG II, showcasing a more reflective, R&B-influenced sound alongside a high-profile return to headlining major festival stages.
