Aspiring young Bay musicians will have the Mauao Performing Arts Centre rocking when the Smokefreerockquest Bay of Plenty regional finals return this Friday.

The top 11 bands will play for first and second place prizes, and the chance to go into the judging pool for the six coveted spots at the national finals to be held in Auckland in September.

The 2015 national winners Joe's Van will be performing at the Smokefreerockquest Bay of Plenty regional finals this Friday. File photo.

Smokefreerockquest founder and director Glenn Common says some entrants are already demonstrating the stand out factor that may see them achieve music career success.

'The benefits of coming together, meeting fellow musicians and playing to a live audience can't be overstated.

'Becoming a performing artist is not a one-day project, it's a long road until you're writing the sort of songs that help to shape a nation's identity as some past winners like Anika Moa and Jason Kerrison have done.”

The top two bands from Friday's regional final will send in 15 minutes of video for selection to go into the national finalists judging pool.

They'll be joined by Katikati College's Brianna Rackham (a.k.a. Bree) and Tauranga Boys' College's Fletcher Oxford, who were selected as the two solo/duo winners for Bay of Plenty at the heats held last month.

Competing this Friday are:

• Downshift (Trident High School)
• Litany of Lies (Whakatane High School)
• The Phonics (Otumoetai College)
• AhJeez(Bethlehem College/Tauranga Boys' College)
• The Smorgasbord Experience (Trident High School)
• The Way the River Flows (Mokoia Intermediate/Rotorua Lakes High School/Chapman College)
• Made Alive (Whakatane High School)
• The Djentlemen (Western Heights High School)
• All of the Above (Otumoetai College)
• La Blanca (Tauhara College/Taupo-nui-a-Tia College)
• Timeless Black (Trident High School)

This Friday's final will also feature a guest performance from local lads and last year's national Smokefreerockquest winners Joe's Van.

The Smokefreerockquest Bay of Plenty regional finals is on at the Mauao Performing Arts Centre on Friday, June 24, from 7pm. For more information and tickets visit: smokefreerockquest.co.nz