Local Tauranga primary and intermediate schools are getting ready to rock the stage in this year's Rockshop Bandquest.

Bandquest is the younger sibling of the high school band competition Smokefreerockquest and is in its eighth year, with the talent level rising each year.

Young and talented rockers are taking the stage from Auckland to Dunedin and a record of 215 young school bands are lined up for this year's competition.

Founder and director Glenn Common says Rockshop Bandquest is a vehicle to develop this talent, with 15 live event this year, as well as an online contest for band outlying regions.

'Schools are responding to the opportunity to give young bands' the experience of performing on a fully set up stage, with a light show and professionally mixed sound.”

'Really it's all about giving the kids an experience that extends them, that puts them under the pressure that comes with live performance and the exhilaration that is its reward.”

New Zealand Rockshops donate prize vouchers to the winners' schools, and spokesperson Hamish Jackson says Bandquest is a great event for the nationwide chain to support.

'The more we can get kids playing music through events like Bandquest, the better it is for the artistic health of New Zealand music.”

Rockshop Bandquest is for bands of three to ten members, up to and including year 8, who play one or two songs.

There is an award for the best original song to encourage bands to write their own material, but the focus is on performance skills.

'Supporting young bands and giving them the opportunity to perform live makes Rockshop Bandquest a perfect match for the nationwide chain,” says Hamish.

Rockshop Bandquest Bay of Plenty is on Wednesday August 29, at Otumoetai College. Start time is 7pm. $10 at the door.

The bands who have entered Rockshop Bandquest in the Bay of Plenty are:

Resonate Otumoetai Intermediate

Revolution Radio Mount Maunganui Intermediate

Input Tauranga Intermediate

Unnamed Mokoia Intermediate

Tech Otumoetai Intermediate

Area 52 ACG Tauranga

Friends with Tractors Oropi School

Purple Tornadoes Otumoetai Intermediate

MAD Mount Maunganui Intermediate

Audioquake Katikati College

The Sherbet Lemons Matamata Intermediate

GreVouS Greerton Village School

Good Morning Good Night Mount Maunganui Intermediate

Output Tauranga Intermediate