Here's an extra little push for all you secondary school students considering entering this year's Smokefreerockquest.

'You're not losing anything by entering, you should take opportunities when you can cause you never know what will pop up,” says Joe's Van drummer Rory Priest.

The 2015 Smokefreerockquest band section winners Joe's Van, from left: Jake Nicholas, Rory Priest and Cormac Seymour. Photo: Supplied

'It's such a great competition and even if you don't make it through the stages, as long as you're having fun, jamming out and writing songs then that's what it's all about. Just enjoy it.”

Joe's Van, which also features lead guitarist Cormac Seymour and vocalist/bass player Jake Nicholas, won last year's Smokefreerockquest and placed second in the 2014 competition.

Following their win, the three-piece walked away with $10,000 in Rockshop vouchers, a $10k NZ On Air recording, video and promo package, a ‘Decent Exposure' campaign on Edge TV, a photo shoot with Thievery Studio, plus a branding package from Imaginary Friends.

Rory says competing in the Smokefreerockquest was an amazing experience for the band.

'From the heats and playing on all the gear and the sound system, through to the regional finals and playing a proper night show with a decent crowd was pretty cool.

'Then making it into the top nine in New Zealand, you get to record in a professional studio and work with mentors who talk to you about the industry and help you with writing.

'It's real cool, if we hadn't of entered we wouldn't have had those experiences,” says Rory.

Bethlehem College's Ben Mollison was also thrust in the spotlight after the then Year 12 student won the solo/duo winner category last year.

Along with a NZ On Air prize package and $3000 in Rockshop vouchers, Ben was also awarded the APRA Lyric Award which came a prize of $500.

Ben has since signed a development deal with Parachute Music and is currently working on his debut EP.

The 2015 Smokefreerockquest solo/duo section winner Ben Mollison. Photo: Supplied

Founder and director Glenn Common estimates some 650 bands and solo-duos will take to the stage across New Zealand's 20 regions for the 2016 Smokefreerockquest.

There'll be some changes to the format this year, says Glenn, which includes students being able to enter both the band and solo/duo categories.

'We actually encourage them to do this, they can get the experience of performing alone or in a duo, as well as gaining the benefits of working together as a band, and we're providing another NZQA curriculum assessment opportunity for music students.”

Also changing this year, smaller regions like Rotorua will not host their own event but students will be given the option of travelling to their nearest centre like Tauranga to compete.

Glenn says though there's been some changes, the platform for young people to perform original songs live remains the same.

'For young people Smokefreerockquest provides a professional stage setting with lights, MC and digital backdrop. It takes them to the roots of musical performance, to audience response and to what, for many, is a life changing experience on stage,” he says.

Entries for the 2016 Smokefreerockquest close Monday, May 9.

The Bay of Plenty regional heats will be held Sunday, May 29, followed by the regional finals on Friday, June 24. For more information visit: www.smokefreerockquest.co.nz