DIG THE GIG NATIONWIDE GRAND FINAL 2024
Walk tall or baby don't walk at all!
DIG THE GIG Finals have been heroic nights over the past four years - we have witnessed plenty and they take the air right out of your lungs!
The first DIG THE GIG Nationwide Grand Final was next level - it was as medicinal, phenomenal, magical and divine!
It was a warm day on October 18th as three of our coolest university bands rocked into the Garden City - Bliss arriving from AKL, Dreams of the Damned heading in from Wellington with The Beatniks making their way from Dunedin - Locals Red Weekend were ready and waiting for the extravaganza that was about to unfold.
Bliss and DOTD were picked up in style at the airport by Captain Brenny in the DTG Tour Bus - the bands connected immediately over a cold sherbet in bus and were taken to the Scenic Hotel - Scenic Hotel have been an incredible sponsor for DTG this year. They have looked after the DTG crew across every city and have made our lives all the better for it. We cant thank you enough. Absolute legends!
Dux Central was the venue for the first DTG Nationwide Grand Final. Ross Herrick and his Hospitalities Hero’s are no strangers to hosting live music events and they certainly didn’t disappoint. Connected to Dux Central is a very hip bar called the Social Poplar Club - this cool space would be the home/scene of some innocent rock n roll crimes, band stories, Sals Pizza and heavy drinking rants across the course of the evening into thew wee wee hours of Saturday morning.
The intensity started to rise as the bands had to draw straws from a hat to decide on the playing order - Red Weekend chose to play last, DOTD took the third spot, Bliss second up which gave The Beatniks the keys to fire up their throaty engine to kick off the first DIG THE GIG Nationwide Grand Final. The rest as they say is history!
The Beatniks are wonderful humans on and off the stage - enough cant be said these guys, they are loose but tight, quiet but loud - it was a pleasure meeting them across the DTG OU comp this year and a real thrill having them in town for the first DTG NGF - huge hearts with a huge career ahead of them!
Bliss took to the stage with precision and calmness - they are a five piece band that are worried about what they aren’t doing as a band as opposed to what they have done - thats a great space to play in and it paid off last Friday night - great songs, great musicians, great future awaits - congrats on taking out the DTG Californian-Kiwi Connection Music Award and winning the first DTG NGF 2024!
Red Weekend had the home advantage but with 160 humans in this intimate venue going crazy for every band it was always going be touch and go. These guys are pros - they are a hard working bar band bar and ripped the roof of the joint in a heart beat. Flo Herzog who did a sterling job on the sound seemed a little worried as the PA was over heading big time!
Dreams of the Damned made way to the stage and from the first chord had an instant affect on the wound up crowd. These guys are heavy rockers that know how to play heavy songs. Frontman Zed will always give 120%. Highlight of the night was his entrance into the crowd mid solo the fans parting like the Red Sea - Zed stealing the show!
On the night of the DTG Nationwide Grand Final the Decibel Meter will be present - but we also created a special link for dedicateds FANS to cast their vote for your favourite band. Those votes were added to the bands Decibel Meter score at the conclusion of the event. Here are the voting results.
The Beatniks: 44
Bliss: 310
Dreams of the Damned: 78
Red Weekend: 130
Thanks to Con Carne for warming up the PA. Con Carne have been playing across most of the DTG UC shows for the past four years - it was fitting that they embraced the stage and lit the match.
A huge thanks to Flo for the sensational sound and lights. Erin & Minnie for looking after the doors and Steff & Olivia from 212 Music Group for looking after the bands and crew for the event.
Thanks to Liam D our Host with the Most for landing the plane softly and getting us safely through the epic journey.
To our awesome sponsors - thank you for your positive energy.
Sam Hanniford your commitment to capturing the moment and your vision through your lens we solute you.
Most importantly thanks to all the DTG FANS - Humans flew from all over NZ to support their bands in the Garden City last Friday night. It really was an amazing effort, we witnessed something special and to our bands - Bliss, Dreams of the Damned, The Beatniks and Red Weekend we thank you for the music.
See all you good souls next year for what will be DIG THE GIG's 5th Anniversary - we have a few tricks up our sleeves and cant wait to share the love and chaos.
Give all you can then give some more.
The DIG THE GIG Californian-Kiwi Connection Music Award has just been announced as an annual prize - For the first time this year we will be staging the first DIG THE GIG Nation-Wide Grand Finals Event.
The four winning bands from all four DIG THE GIG 2024 Uni Comps will fight it out in the DIG THE GIG Ring of Rock N' Roll to claim this prestigious award and be crowned best DIG THE GIG University Band in Aotearoa!
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