Dig the Gig goes further: Nationwide Grand Final, four years running

In the City take the stage. Source: Heidi Slade. 

With two heats down and one to go, Dig the Gig at UC is well underway. Founder and organiser Matt Johnson says the competition has been “growing beautifully” – so much so that this year, for the first time, the winners of the Dig the Gig events at the University of Otago, University of Auckland, and Victoria University of Wellington will all face off in a ‘grand final’. 

With the winners of its rounds typically judged by a decibel meter, Johnson said the final, hosted in Ōtautahi, will also be livestreamed so that viewers can vote online. 

While being crowned the winners of Dig the Gig nationally, the student band which takes out the new final is also set to win a trip to LA to play at the Whiskey a Go Go, a live music venue on Sunset Boulevard. 

“Every year we’re going to be sending a band to LA to play the Whisky a Go Go, it’s a wonderful achievement to be able to do that,” said Johnson. 

DTG at UC 2022 winners Pool House are set to make the trip, off the back of the competition, performing at the Whisky a Go Go this month. 

Johnson said 16 bands entered the UC section of the competition for 2024.  

“Obviously we’re in the fourth season with Dig the Gig University of Canterbury now, so you know the brand is alive and well.” 

So far, the competition’s decibel meter has seen Big Angry named the winners of Heat 1, heading to the semi-finals on June 26. 

“The first heats, you never know who is going to come out and show up, it’s really down to the bands to make sure they bring their fans which is in their hands… if you don’t bring your fans, you don’t get through to the semis or the finals.” 

Johnson said that this year saw new bands rolling in. 

“The quality has been great, there’s a lot of new bands coming through too… when I started in 2021, there were bands that had just started university, and they were in that comp for about three years, which is really cool. 

“We’re getting a new wave of total new bands this time around,” he said. 

“The whole reason behind [Dig the Gig] was to give students a chance to get out of their flats, get out of their halls and get into a live music venue … to give people another colour to choose from, and to create this competition, that was a bit unique.” 

Other prizes include the Rhythm and Alps Arena Stage Award and the GO LIVE Main Stage Award.