They’re talented, tuned up and ready to perform in towns from Auckland to Dunedin just on 160 young school bands are lined up for this year’s Rockshop Bandquest, the nationwide music contest for intermediate and primary students.
Kāpiti has two bands competing in the Wellingto regional competition and they are The Vibes from Te Horo School, and Heatwave from Kapanui School. Heatwave are continuing the run for Kapanui School which also produced the band Problem Child who finished second in the regional Battle of the Bands comp last year.
Bandquest is in its sixth year as the younger sibling of Smokefreerockquest, and the level of talent just keeps on rising.
Founder and director Glenn Common says Rockshop Bandquest is a vehicle to develop this talent, with 11 live events this year, as well as an online contest for bands from outlying regions.
“Rockshop Bandquest is often these bands’ first experience on a fully set up stage, with a light show and professionally mixed sound,” he said. “This extends them, and puts them under a little bit of pressure in a supportive environment. After five years we can see how this encourages students to continue with their music, with all the benefits that brings in high school, both socially and academically.”
Rockshop Bandquest Wellington is on Wednesday August 17 at Sacred Heart College, start time 7pm, t ickets are $10 at the door.
The bands contesting Rockshop Bandquest in Wellington are:
Platinum RoseMonrad Intermediate
The VibesTe Horo School
QualityTawa Intermediate
HeatwaveKapanui School
21 NationsNewlands Intermediate
ShockwavzHutt Intermediate
Unnamed band Hutt Intermediate
Unnamed band Hutt Intermediate
Rockshop Bandquest is for bands of two or more members, from intermediate or primary schools, who play a short set of covers or original songs. There is an award for the best original song to encourage bands to write their own material, but the focus is on performance skills.
Rockshop donates prize vouchers to the winners’ schools, and spokesman, Hamish Jackson, says nurturing young bands and giving them the opportunity to perform live makes Rockshop Bandquest a perfect match for the nationwide chain to support.
There will be mentoring sessions from successful Smokefreerockquest bands in the afternoon of the regional events and an online national final announcement later in September, via bandquest.co.nz.
