Over the past 48 hours, the largest auditorium in New Zealand has been transformed with the fitting of a 2-tonne, 65sq m screen; about 80 moving lights stretching from one end of the hall to the other; a sound system with speakers worth more than $500,000; and a dining experience fit for New Zealand's music industry A-listers.
Stars attending include Anika Moa, Tami Neilson, Bic Runga, Kody Nielson, Chelsea Jade, members of The Clean, Graeme Downes, Don McGlashan, Martin Phillipps, Harry Lyon, Moana Maniapoto, Julia Deans, Jay Clarkson, Jan Hellriegel, Jenny Morris, Paul Casserly and Annah Mac.
A plane-load of musicians will be arriving from Auckland today to attend the event.
All five finalists in the Silver Scroll Award itself are songs released by women. They are Aldous Harding (Horizon), Nadia Reid (Richard), Bic Runga (Close Your Eyes), Chelsea Jade (Life of the Party) and Lorde, with co-writers Joel Little and Jack Antanoff (Green Light).
Apra New Zealand operations head and awards show producer Anthony Healey said hundreds of thousands of dollars was being spent on the event.
''We try to use as much locally-sourced equipment as we can.
''Almost everything that we've used is from Dunedin or certainly from the South Island.''
The event showcases great New Zealand music and will include the usual line-up of stellar performances, acclaimed awards, and moving tributes.
He said the show had morphed over the years, getting more technical each year, but ultimately, the music took precedence.
''What we're trying to do is shine a light on, and celebrate, the best songs of the year.
''We do that by performing them ... with a pallet of technology that they won't find anywhere else.''
Mr Healey praised the facility, saying it was ''unique and special''.
''We've done other shows in the Auckland Town Hall, the Wellington Town Hall and the Christchurch Town Hall, but as far as those buildings go, this [the Dunedin Town Hall] is superior.
''It's scale is much better, more intimate. Every seat gets a good view and that's pretty unique in a theatre like this.''
Mr Healey said it was the first time the awards had been in Dunedin.
There were more songwriters in Dunedin per capita than any other city in the country, so it was time to share the celebration with them, he said.
''I've been wanting to do this in Dunedin for years because this is a really special place.
''It's got a great musical tradition, a great musical history, and there is still great music coming out of Dunedin now.''
Dunedin singer/songwriter Shayne Carter - the man behind Straitjacket Fits, the Double Happys, and Dimmer - is this year's awards music director.
After seeing what Dunedin has to offer, Mr Healey was certain the awards ceremony would return to the city.
''It reinvents the night by being in a different place. It changes it and makes it relevant to the audience.''
