Emo City Takeover: A Week of Afterparties and Community Events

14 April 2026

Auckland is hosting a concentrated run of international pop-punk, post-hardcore and alternative acts this week, drawing audiences from across New Zealand into the city.

Running parallel to these shows, Ding Dong Lounge is presenting Emo City Takeover, a five-night series of late-night events and community-focused programming designed to extend activity beyond the main venues.

Positioned in the Auckland CBD, Ding Dong Lounge has an established role within the alternative and guitar-driven music community, regularly hosting touring acts, local bands, and club nights tied to the wider scene. During weeks with a high concentration of touring artists, the venue functions as a secondary meeting point for audiences following headline shows.

Emo City Takeover formalises that role across five consecutive nights, combining afterparties, live performances, and participatory events.

The programme opens on Tuesday, April 14 with Sad Jokes Edition, a comedy open mic held in the venue’s upstairs space, Dead Witch. The event focuses on personal material aligned with themes commonly explored in the genre, presented in a live comedy format.

On Wednesday, April 15, Disrespect Your Wednesday operates as an unofficial afterparty aimed at audiences attending shows by A Day To Remember, Papa Roach and Biffy Clyro. The night features DJs playing pop-punk, metalcore, emo and 2000’s alternative tracks. A midnight performance from Auckland band The First Child (pictured) takes place upstairs in Dead Witch.

Thursday, April 16 shifts to a participatory format with Sad Songs & Loud Feelings Jam Night, providing a full backline and open access to the stage for attendees. The event is structured to encourage collaboration between musicians and audience members.

Friday, April 17 continues with Auckland Is For Lovers, an unofficial afterparty associated with Hawthorne Heights’s Auckland show. The night centres on emo, pop-punk and post-hardcore material, with a midnight set from local act First Serve.

The series concludes on Saturday, April 18 with Scream Through Saturday, aimed at audiences attending shows by Saosin, Senses Fail and MGK. The event features a DJ programme focused on post-hardcore, emo and related genres, alongside a midnight performance from Lost Vessels.

The inclusion of local bands across the week — The First Child, First Serve and Lost Vessels — reflects an ongoing emphasis on supporting Auckland-based acts during periods of increased international touring activity.

If you’re planning to come, grabbing a ticket early makes a real difference in helping nights like this keep running. Tickets are available via dingdongloungenz.com

Emo City Takeover runs from April 14–18 at Ding Dong Lounge, Auckland.

EVENT DETAILS

EMO CITY TAKEOVER
Ding Dong Lounge — 26 Wyndham Street, Auckland CBD
R18
Dates: April 14–18, 2026

Tuesday, April 14
Sad Jokes Edition
Time: 8:30PM – 10:30PM
Location: Dead Witch (upstairs)

Comedy open mic
Happy Hour: 7PM–8PM
Late-night Happy Hour: 12AM–1AM
Food menu available

Wednesday, April 15
Disrespect Your Wednesday
Time: 10:30PM – 4:00AM

Unofficial afterparty
DJs: pop-punk, metalcore, emo, 2000’s alternative
Midnight live set: The First Child (Dead Witch)

Tickets:

Presale: $10
Door: $15

Thursday, April 16
Sad Songs & Loud Feelings Jam Night
Time: 8:30PM – 11:30PM
Location: Dead Witch (upstairs)

Open jam night
Full backline provided
Free entry (ticket recommended)

Friday, April 17
Auckland Is For Lovers
Time: 11:00PM – 4:00AM