Auckland, New Zealand. September 20, 2022– New Zealand’s premier rock bar, Ding Dong Lounge, is proud to announce that entries are now open for the annual Ding Dong Lounge band competition. The competition returns for its 8th year, held on the bespoke concert hall floor of the Dead Witch bar.
“Our goal was to raise the bar for live bands that were just getting started,” says Andrew Treeby, Ding Dong Lounge’s entertainment director. “We wanted to encourage the bands playing in our venue to take their band more seriously and give a band the chance to record a real single.”
“Each year it’s almost like we create a mini-scene within the competing bands, and five years later they’re still playing together, often playing in bigger venues. It’s a stepping stone for some of Tāmaki Makaurau’s biggest up-and-coming bands, and we’re proud to still be here to offer the same support locally after the pressures of the past few years.
The competition consists of a series of rounds on October 14, 15, 21 and 22 before moving on to the semi-finals on November 18 and 19 for the chance to compete in the Ding Dong Lounge Bands 2022 competition finals at Dead Witch on Saturday November 26. 2022. The winner will receive studio time worth $2,000, recording a single with recording engineer and music producer Dave Rhodes of Dave Rhodes Productions and a music video to accompany the release, directed by Alex Hargreaves by Ah! Movies and DOP Piotr Kwasnik from Video Buzz. Promotional artwork for the Single and Release Party to be held at Ding Dong Lounge is provided by Barny Bewick of Indium Design and a $1,000 street billboard campaign from Phantom Billstickers is included. This is complemented by $1,000 cash from Ding Dong Lounge, a promotional package via Muzic.net.nz and a $300 t-shirt screen print via Epic Engraving.
All finalists will also receive a mentorship session with Dave Rhodes Productions on performing, how to build a fan base and get their music heard by a wider audience.
Current reigning champions WHITE NØISE MAFIA have recorded and released their first single The divide after their 2020 win. “It was a great goal for us as a band,” says lead guitarist Matt Holden. “It was a goal for us to have a setlist of six songs ready in time for the contest, we didn’t finish writing the last song of the set until the day before the contest!”
“The competition was incredible and really got us started as a band,” admits vocalist Chris Webb. “The prize money helped us film and record our first music video, which allowed us to get on the radio and get bigger shows to new audiences. It was awesome!”
The quality of competition gets fiercer every year, with previous competitors including iconic names from the Aotearoa rock scene such as Shepherds Reign, Crooked Royals, Coridian, Blue Ruin, Mudshark, Pale Flag, Channeled, Cafe Fistfight and more have all entered in previous years.
Groups can participate in the 2022 competition now on www.dingdongloungenz.com/bands-competition.
There is a $25 registration fee and all the information groups will need to know before entering is available on the same homepage. As Ding Dong Lounge and Dead Witch are an R18 venue, this competition is restricted to contestants aged 18 and over.
For more information, please visit www.dingdongloungenz.com.
Previous winners:
2020: WHITE NOISE MAFIA
2019: Enter Venus
2018: Dead Beat Boys
2017: animal head
2016:
fall state
2015: Bad condition
2014 : Fine white lines
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