20 Bands Announced for the 2025 Ding Dong Lounge Band Competition

Auckland’s Ding Dong Lounge has announced the 20 bands competing in its annual Band Competition, running October–November 2025. First held in 2014 and now entering its tenth edition, the event has become a launchpad for emerging artists – offering career-shaping prizes, scene recognition, and a chance to carve out space in Tāmaki Makaurau’s vibrant music community.

The competition kicks off next weekend with Heat One on Friday, October 3 and Heat Two on Saturday, October 4, followed by Heats Three and Four on October 24 and 25. Two bands from each heat will advance to the semi-finals on November 14 and 15, leading to the Grand Final on November 29.

Heats and Bands

Heat One – October 3
Tin Roof, Monolith, Steel Tap, Sympathy For Summer, Alternative Facts

Heat Two – October 4
Blossom, Clementine, DayDreamer, Missing HQ, Pony

Heat Three – October 24
Earthscraper, Hitokiri, Living State, The Pillocks, -Loveray-

Heat Four – October 25
Anacrusia, Master Frank Fu, Sincere Sapling, Noah Nite, Fleeting Thought

Doors open 8PM, first band 8:30PM. Early bird presales $10, general admission presales $20, door sales $25 (if not sold out). R18.

“The competition isn’t just about finding a winner,” says organiser Andrew Treeby. “It’s about giving new bands a platform, connecting artists with each other, and creating moments that stick with both musicians and audiences.”

Prize Package

The winning band will receive:

– A professionally produced single by Dave Rhodes Productions(Devilskin, Blindspott, Head Like A Hole)

– A music video by Dave Thomson of Imaginary Friends (Shepherds Reign, Alien Weaponry, The Boondocks)

– Custom artwork by Barny Bewick of Indium Design

– Promotional support from Phantom Billstickers, ACT UP Entertainment, Muzic.NZ, and Ding Dong Lounge

– Additional prizes include JB Hi-Fi vouchers, venue hire, and instrument servicing from Ion Guitar Works

Grassroots Beginnings, Global Reach

Competitions like the Ding Dong Lounge Band Competition transform live music nights into proving grounds—where emerging bands make their mark. Grassroots venues like Ding Dong Lounge act as the “R&D department” of New Zealand’s music scene, where emerging acts test ideas, refine their sound, and develop an audience before stepping onto larger stages.

Shepherds Reign, a five-piece Polynesian metal band from South Auckland, exemplifies this journey. They honed their distinctive fusion of Polynesian culture and heavy metal at Ding Dong Lounge, performing for intimate, passionate audiences before going on to tour internationally, release music on independent labels, and play prominent festivals such as Homegrown Festival in Wellington and Soundsplash Festival in Raglan. Their 2023 album Ala Mai, released on Golden Robot Records, won awards in the SunPix Best Pacific Language category and the Best Pacific Music Album category at the Pacific Music Awards 2024.

The Boondocks, a high-energy two-piece riff rock band from Āwhitu, have been a mainstay of the competition, reaching the Grand Final in 2023 and touring regionally while supporting national and international acts. They are set to open for Villainy this Saturday night at Galatos, and are releasing their debut album, Don’t Let Them See You Cry, on October 17, 2025. The album will be available digitally and on vinyl, with a New Zealand tour to celebrate its release, showcasing the band’s growth and continued recognition within the local music community.

Both The Boondocks and Shepherds Reign, bands that played some of their first shows at Ding Dong Lounge and grew within its community, were chosen to open for Shihad at their final ever New Zealand show earlier this year in Wellington. This milestone highlights the role Ding Dong Lounge plays in nurturing talent that goes on to share stages with the country’s biggest acts, reinforcing the venue’s reputation as a true incubator for New Zealand music.

“Every band you see on a festival stage or hear on the radio began somewhere like this,” says Treeby. “Competitions like ours give artists the space to grow, audiences a chance to discover new music, and the local scene the energy to thrive. Supporting these bands and the venues that host them is an investment in the future of New Zealand music.”

Presale tickets are live now at dingdongloungenz.com. Support your favourites, discover new ones, and be part of the journey.

Photo: 2024 Ding Dong Lounge Band Competition Winners Grapehouse