Katikati student band Zuhana – made up of four 11-12 year olds – is asking fans to vote for them online to win the opening gig of 2013's Smokefree Rockquest national finals.

The band of intermediate-age students is vying to win the Skinny National People's Choice Award, and is the only Bay talent left in the competition.

Zuhana band members (from left) Charlie Kelly, Greg Menhinick, Andrew Hannagan and Louie Campbell want their fans to vote for them to win the people's choice award in the 2013 Smokefree Rockquest.

Band members – 11-year-old Charlie Kelly (drummer), and 12-year-old boys Andrew Hannagan (lead guitarist), Louie Campbell (lead vocals, guitar and bass) and Greg Menhinick (back vocals and keyboards) – are urging fans to get behind them by voting daily.

The peoples' choice award sees one act picked to open the national final on September 28 in Auckland – chosen by fans instead of judges.

Asked what the gig would mean to them, Greg replies: 'Everything”. 'The competition has been a real good experience and we really want to do this opening act.”

Louie says Zuhana is one of the youngest acts in the contest, which is aimed at older, college-age students.

'Because we got chosen as people's choice in the regional competition, we're now up against a heap of other bands to win it again to open the finals in Auckland.”

Louie, who has written two original songs – ‘White Blood Stained Curtains' and ‘New Ground' – for the band, says he's been inspired by people and things going on in the world.

'Schools in the US with all the killings inspired me to write ‘White Blood Stained Curtains'.”

The band formed in February when the students began attending Katikati College and say their music is reggae, rock and pop-rock influenced, and inspiring musicians include Six60 and Tiki Tane.

Zuhana now has local gigs lined up for summer and dreams of recording an album – but first they want to nail Rockquest's opening act, which will give them huge exposure.

'Our motto is ‘Go Zuhana, Go the Bay', and we want people to get on their computers and smartphones to vote for us every day until the competition closes,” says Louie.

To vote daily for Zuhaha, go to: http://www.facebook.com/skinny/app_591776447539429 (on a smartphone go to: http://apps.facebook.com/sfrqandskinnymobile) or visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ZuhanaBand

Voting closes September 16 and the people's choice winner is announced September 20.