Rockshop Bandquest 2013 Auckland entries and event details

Rockshop Bandquest 2013 Auckland entries and event details

From Stewart Island to Kerikeri, there are over 140 young school bands lining up to enter this year’s Rockshop Bandquest, the nationwide music contest for intermediate and primary students.

Bandquest is in its third year as the younger sibling of Smokefreerockquest, and for kids of intermediate age there’s never been a better time to be spotted at a school music contest, with international success stories Kimbra and Lorde having started their careers this way.

Founder and director Glenn Common says intermediate school talent quests are almost as old as intermediate schools, and there are even some regional contests, but he says Rockshop Bandquest raises the stakes because it is nationwide.

“We’re offering an opportunity for bands right across New Zealand to benchmark themselves against their peers in a setup that lifts their game, with stage lighting and professional sound mix and all the support they need to do their best.”

There are three events in Auckland, all bands are confirmed entries, but those marked TBC or with the number of students, have yet to decide on a name. All three events are at Auckland Girls Grammar Auditorium; Northshore - 30th Oct, Auckland Central - 31st Oct, and Auckland East/Manukau, 1st Nov. Tickets are $10 at the door from 6pm, Rockshop Bandquest runs from 7pm – 9pm.

North Shore

Stereo Active Takapuna Normal Intermediate

District Riot Huapai District School

Callum and the Gang Northcross Intermediate

The Code Northcross Intermediate

Cooking With Gas Northcross Intermediate

Ernie Northcross Intermediate

The Unknown Murrays Bay Intermediate

Output Murrays Bay Intermediate

Storm Murrays Bay Intermediate

Faster Destroyer Murrays Bay Intermediate

Snatch Murrays Bay Intermediate

Low Keys Murrays Bay Intermediate

Slaty Takapuna Normal Intermediate

TBC Wentworth College

Auckland Central:

Confusion Delusion Blockhouse Bay Intermediate

The Heliers St. Heliers Shool

King XV Ponsonby Intermediate

Slump Ponsonby Intermediate

The Paua Station Royal Oak Intermediate

The Elements Avondale Intermediate

TBC Churchill Park School

TBC Churchill Park School

Unanswered Te Atatu Intermediate

Aftershock Te Atatu Intermediate

Infinite Te Atatu Intermediate

Apocalyptic Te Atatu Intermediate

Uneek Waikowhai Intermediate

Auckland East & Manukau

Infamous Wesley Intermediate

TBC Sir Douglas Bader Intermediate

10 Students Howick Intermediate

9 Students (1) Howick Intermediate

9 Students (2) Howick Intermediate

L’n’P (Loud n Proud) Koru School

High Voltage Bucklands Beach Intermediate

MI Pure Manurewa Intermediate

MI Fresh Manurewa Intermediate

We Honestly Don’t Know (WHDK) Greenmeadows Intermediate

Just Dooze It Randwick Park School

Diversity Mission Heights Junior College

The Jamalamaz Kerikeri High School

TBC Sir Douglas Bader Intermediate

TBC Kedgley Intermediate

Common says the contest is for bands of two or more members, from intermediate or primary schools, who will 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.

Major sponsor, Rockshop, donates prizes of musical equipment to the winners’ schools. Spokesman, Hamish Jackson, says Rockshop Bandquest has quickly established itself on the musical landscape as one of the most exciting events in the development of young musicians.

“Three years ago Rockshop Bandquest drew 70 entries and this year that’s doubled – every year we are getting more bands entering with more musicians involved and we’re now staging events in more regions as well,” he said. “I think it’s going to be the best Rockshop Bandquest we’ve had and it's an event with an exciting future.”

This year Rockshop Bandquest will be held in Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland, with online entries for bands in outlying areas. With insufficient bands in the Hawkes Bay this year to hold a live event, Napier bands will either compete on line or to travel to Hamilton or Wellington.

There will be mentoring sessions from successful Smokefreerockquest bands in the afternoon of the regional events and an online national final on 15th Nov, via You Tube.

Ends

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