The best band will win the opportunity to perform live in Queenstown on New Year's Eve.
A total of five bands and one solo acoustic performer will line up tonight - the Alpine Effect, Seven Car Pile-Up, the Collective Me, the Bad Endings, the Fletcherz, who won the best band title last year, and Ruby Bain on vocals and guitar.
A heat for more acoustic artists will be held next Friday, September 21, while the final to decide the Ultimate Muso and runners-up will be held on Friday, September 28.
Wakatipu Youth Trust youth worker Fi Sawers said this week the talent of Wakatipu youth "seems to increase each year, so it will be incredibly hard for the judges to determine the finalists and the Ultimate Muso 2012."
Competition winners will get the chance to professionally record their song in Studio 183, Frankton.
The best band will get to play a warm-up set on the New Year's Eve main stage as part of the Summerdaze Festival and the best solo artist will get vouchers to It Might Get Loud music store.
Guest judges this year are renowned Wakatipu entertainers Simon Green, Margaret O'Hanlon and Lindsey and Ailsa Woods.
"Everyone is welcome to come to the Youth Booth and show support and enjoy three great nights' entertainment," Miss Sawers said.
Doors open at 7pm and the event starts at 7.30pm.
Entry to the heats is by donation and the final is ticketed. Tickets are available at the Youth Booth, on Stanley St, from today.
The competition is open to Wakatipu youth from high-school age through to 24 years of age.
