Bay of Plenty will be pumping this weekend as the top youth bands and solo-duos play off in the regional final of Smokefreerockquest 2018.

Smokefreerockquest founder and director Glenn Common says the competition provides entrants with a platform to perform live, which builds on what they have learnt at school.

'The support that contemporary musicians get in schools these days and the framework provided by NCEA is evident in the number of young musicians that get to performance standard,” he says.

'Secondary school teachers offer tuition and encouragement, create space for bands and soloists to practise and they come along to support them at Smokefreerockquest, to help them to get the most value from the experience of entering – before, during and after.”

He says the professional performance environment offered by SFRQ includes a stage set up with lights, sound, projection and technical support.

In addition the show also includes a guest band, MC and lots of giveaways.

SFRQ founder and director Pete Rainey says in regional cities the Smokefreerockquest final is often the year's biggest youth gig and ‘a major influencer'.

'We're really proud that our association with Smokefree has been part of a huge social change in New Zealand over the past 28 years.

'It's absolutely a real thing that the number of young kids smoking has dropped and we're right behind the idea of making NZ Smokefree by 2025.”

The Bay of Plenty final is at the Totara St Performing Art Centre at 7pm on Saturday. Tickets cost $10 for school students and $20 for adults and are available from Eventfinda or at the door.

The guest band is Auckland punk trio and 2017 SFRQ winners Minimal Silence.

Those competing to join the ranks of Kiwi music success at the Bay of Plenty regional final are:

French Doors Otumoetai College

Paras Bethlehem College

Stella and Elijah Mt Maunganui College

BirdHouse Otumoetai College

Fletcher Oxford Tauranga Boys' College

The Good Stuff Bethlehem College

Annabel Watt Mt Maunganui College

Bree Rose Katikati College

Three Quarters Late Bethlehem College

Carson Angland Mt Maunganui College

Sonos Tauranga Boys' College

Shae Northfield Tauranga Girls' College

Vanguard Trident HS & St Joseph's Catholic School

Blackout Tauranga Boys' College

First and second placed bands and solo-duos submit footage to be selected as finalists to play at the Smokefreerockquest national final on Saturday September 22 at the Dorothy Winstone Centre in Auckland; as do the winners of the Smokefree Tangata Beats Award, for that event's national final at the same venue on Friday September 21.

The live events run from May 5 until July 6, and most regions are also being filmed for the hugely popular webisodes (sfrq.nz/video/) fronted this year by NZ's ‘First Bloke' Clarke Gayford.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners' prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners that includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, $16,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package, a photo shoot and branding package from Imaginary Friends.

There is also the Musicianship Award, the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, Best Song Award, Smokefree Vocals Award, Fatboy Style Award, and the ZM People's Choice.

Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest over its 30-year history include Broods, Leroy Clampitt, Kimbra, Aaradhna, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Kids of 88, Die!Die!Die!, Joel Little, Tiny Ruins, Marlon Williams, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Chelsea Jade, Nadia Reid, Aldous Harding, Steriogram, Phoenix Foundation, Devilskin, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga, and The Naked and Famous.

Smokefree Tangata Beats standout successes include Alien Weaponry, Strangely Arousing Nesian Mystik, the only New Zealand band to ever have ten singles all certified gold or platinum.