Auckland bar's 'Jam Nights' elevate local music scene

An Auckland bar helps up-and-coming musicians break into the industry with their weekly jam sessions.

Auckland’s local bars and music scenes like Ding Dong Lounge are one of the many that enable New Zealand's music culture to thrive.

For Auckland-born, world-famous artists like Lorde, Rosé, and Daniel Bedingfield, playing live music at underground bars and cocktail lounges was their starting point.

The bar offers a welcoming and supportive environment for musicians of all ages, with attendees ranging from 18 years old to 60 years old.

Ding Dong Lounge supplies all the necessary equipment that bands or musicians need, such as backline gear (amplifiers and drums).

Events manager Andrew Treeby says the focus of Jam Nights is to collaborate and have fun - providing a platform for newbies or seasoned musos to gain experience and form bands.

"We realised there was a demand for local musicians to get up on stage,” he says.

“Finding that some bands weren’t necessarily well-rehearsed and needed a space to scratch up - that's where our Jam Nights come in.”

A newly two-piece hard rock act from the Awhitu Peninsula, The Boondocks, frequently plays at Ding Dong Lounge.

Bass player Scott Parker credits the bar's music nights with helping their band gain experience and exposure.

“Really early on, we played lots just to get a good amount of experience and meet other bands,” he says.

Parker says that Ding Dong Lounge puts a great deal of time and energy into making it a safe space for all by advocating for sexual assault awareness and zero-tolerance policies.

“The staff are really supportive. I would absolutely recommend the venue. It’s pretty hard to go wrong," he says.

Ding Dong Lounge's Wednesday Jam Nights allow musicians and music lovers to come together and make music in a supportive environment.