The ‘psychedelic rock band' from Mount Maunganui College – Joe's Van – is one of the top six bands to play in the national finals of Smokefreerockquest.

Joe's Van band members Jake Nicholas (bass and vocals), Cormac Seymour (guitar) and Rory Priest (drums). Photo by: Bruce Barnard.

Ben Mollison from Bethlehem College is one of the top three soloists in the national finals.

The top nine of 700 bands and solo/duos who entered the Smokefreerockquest were announced on Friday.

Contenders have played off in heats and finals held in 23 regions, vying for the chance to take the big prizes at the national final in Auckland on September 11.

Judges including Rockshop promotions manager Hamish Jackson, Jane de Dong (aka performer Ruby Frost), Chris Mack from Six60 and Edge TV station manager Damien Daniels named the top six bands and three solo/duos selected from DVDs submitted since the regional finals.

Spokesman Damien Daniels says it was really quite intimidating to see such a high level of talent from such young people, and heart-breaking not to let all of them through to the final.

'The real standout was the high level of musicianship from people of this age. That, and the diversity that there is now in New Zealand music.

'We may be small but we're quite eclectic – the finalists range from metal band Alien Weaponry, the Brit-pop sound of Joe Says No, there's the psychedelic rock band Joe's Van and then Reciprocate with a soul upbeat funk sound.”

The judges also named some acts as highly commended, though they will not be going through to the final. These are (bands): Tetra, Nelson College for Girls; Future Class, Garin College, Nelson; Forlorn Bloom, Hagley Community College, Christchurch; Altero, Lincoln High School, Canterbury; and (solo/duo) Situation Vacant, Hamilton Boys' High School and Hamilton Girls' High School; and Talia Dalton, Otumoetai College, Tauranga.

There is still a chance for one of the top 30 acts to get through to the final as the People's Choice winner, which is selected from the 21 acts in the top 30, but not in the top nine. Voting will open next Wednesday, with the text number to be announced on Facebook on Tuesday night.

The national final of Smokefreerockquest is at the Raye Freedman Centre at Epsom Girls Grammar on Friday, September 11, from 7pm.

Tickets will be offered first to the fans and families of the finalists before they're made available from iticket.co.nz. A $20, plus booking fee, applies.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners' prize packages for bands and the solo/duo winners that include $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, a $20,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package' a ‘Decent Exposure' campaign on FOUR, a photo shoot with Thievery Studio, a branding package from Imaginary Friends and the Unleashed Travel ambassador award – a seven day trip to Fiji.

There is also the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship for Outstanding Musicianship, the Australasian Performing Right Association Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award and the Smokefree Women's Musicianship Award.

The People's Choice award is voted by text with the opportunity to open the Smokefreerockquest national final.

The finalists for Smokefree Pacifica Beats will be announced on August 10, with the national final for that event, also at the Raye Freedman Centre at Epsom Girls Grammar, on Saturday, September 12.

For more information, visit sfrq.co.nz or facebook.com/thesfrq

The top six bands are:

Alien Weaponry Bream Bay College, Otamatea High School, Northland

Courtney Hate Green Bay High School, Auckland

Joe Says No Mt Albert Grammar School, Auckland Grammar

The Big Gus Green Bay High School, Auckland

Reciprocate Alfriston College, Auckland

Joe's Van Mt Maunganui College

And the top three solo/duos are:

Solomon the Crook St Peter's School, Cambridge

Ben Mollison Bethlehem College, Tauranga

Joseph Balfe Waitaki Boys' High School