A nationwide competition is once again underway to find an act to open the Auckland Big Day Out.
Artists can enter via bnet (excluding Wellington’s Radio Active) and alternative radio stations in a number of main centres. The competition requires demos to be sent in for on-air judging from stations in Auckland, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Christchurch and Dunedin before the Big Day Out decides on a National Winner.
Last year, Dunedin’s The Aesthetics won the competition. Their prize included a trip to Auckland by airplane plus swanky accommodation in the big smoke.
For 2009, the Big Day Out is opening things up a little more to the prevailing zeitgeist.
Big Day Out NZ promoter Campbell Smith commented that he expected to see more of a ‘bnet’s got talent’ vibe as the competition heats up in coming weeks.
“The Aesthetics are a brilliant band but definitely a ‘trad’ selection based on their Lou Reed-drenched shouty drone rock style,” he said.
“I’m not adverse to us getting a couple of singing jugglers from Palmerston North onto the Big Day Out stage if that’s the way it turns up,” joked Smith.
“But to be honest, we’re expecting to unearth something genuinely exciting, much as we did last year. The Big Day Out has been the best music festival in the country for 15 years and we pride ourselves on showcasing the best new bands and freshest talent in the country every year alongside a superlative international line-up.”