Baycourt Tauranga will be pumping tonight as the top youth bands in Bay of Plenty play off in the Smokefreerockquest 2013 regional final.

Otumoetai Intermediate band 'OI' are ready to rock at tonight's regional final.

A total of 10 bands and two solo/duo acts to play off on June 23 were selected at last month's heats.

Smokefreerockquest founder and director Glenn Common says he is expecting the usual wide age range in the audience tonight.

'As well as peer support, we see grandparents and parents coming along to SFRQ to see their kids excel on stage, under lights in a real theatre – it's a professional set up and they respond to this opportunity.

'Over the 25 years we've been running SFRQ it's been a positive influence on thousands of young people's lives and has created a way for kids to communicate with each other and with their parents and teachers.”

At the Bay of Plenty final, first and second place for the solo/duo acts will be announced, along with awards for the top three bands, the MAINZ Musicianship Award, Smokefree Award For Women's Musicianship, Lowdown Best Song, the APRA Lyrics Award and the Skinny Mobile People's Choice voted by text.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners' prize packages for bands and the solo/duo winners, that include musical gear to a total value of $13,000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, inclusion on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support, and video play on youth music channel FOUR.

There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, the Smokefree Women's Musicianship Award and the Skinny Mobile People's Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the SFRQ National final.

After tonight's regional final, two bands from each of 23 regional finals send in their videos for selection as one of the six bands to play off in the national final in Auckland, September 28.

Judging is done from a pool of 50-60 bands that also includes Rockshop Second Chance, an opening for established bands (playing regular gigs) who don't feel they played their best on the night.

The top two solo/duo acts from each region go through the same process to be selected as one of the two solo/duo acts to play off for national honours.

The Bay of Plenty final is at Baycourt on Sunday, June 23. Show starts 7pm. Tickets cost $20 from Ticket Direct or at the door.

More info at sfrq.co.nz or facebook.com/thesfrq

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

The Incline Mt Maunganui College, Tauranga Boys' College and Tauranga Girls' College

Earth Won Whakatane High School

Rhythms of the Restless Mt Maunganui College

Original Sin Tauranga Boys' College

Wakerley Bethlehem College

OI Otumoetai Intermediate

Evolution of Execution Mt Maunganui College

Chase Replica Tauranga Boys, Otumoetai College & Tauranga Girls

RPM Mt Maunganui College

Zuhana Katikati College