Battle heats up as top talent selected

The Bay of Plenty’s top talented musicians strummed, sang and strutted their stuff at Baycourt in the weekend and now the top 12 are heading for this year’s regional Smokefreerockquest final.

A total of 21 young bands and musicians performed at the regional heats at Baycourt on Saturday, competing for a place in the regional final.

Tauranga Boys’ College band Kuriosity will be joining 10 other Tauranga bands in the regional finals of the Smokefreerockquest.

The top 12 have now been selected to go through to the regional finals on June 16.

SFRQ founder and director Glenn Common says Smokefreerockquest is a unique vehicle for engaging and inspiring young people throughout New Zealand.

“This year we expect to crack the level of 800 bands entering – that is around 3000 kids being given the experience of playing their own music live on stage to their peers. “Smokefreerockquest is an empowering and valuable experience even for the bands that don’t make it through to the finals.”

The winner of the competition gets a prize package including NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth over $10,000, musical gear to the value of $10,000 from Rockshops, radio promotional support for a single, and video play on youth music channel FOUR.

The Bay of Plenty final is at the Baycourt Theatre on June 16 at 7pm. Tickets are available from Ticket Direct or on the door for $20.

The bands selected to compete in the regional final are:

Georgia Lines.

Kevin Kang.

Planet Miranda.

Sam I am.

Six Gun Quota.

The Fallen.

The M Six.

When we get home.