Aspiring Tauranga musicians are encouraged to sign up to nationwide music contest ‘Rockshop Bandquest' as entries close today.

The competition, now in its third year, is a platform for primary and intermediate aged children to showcase their talent.

Last year's winners Welington band ‘Bumnotes'.

After entries close, Tauranga bands have until November 14 to practise their acts before the show day at Baycourt Theatre.

According to founder and director, Glenn Common, Rockshop Bandquest was set up following requests from teachers for a contest to showcase the talent emerging from school bands.

'Rockshop Bandquest is a platform for the next generation of contemporary musicians to step out and perform in a supportive and encouraging competition format, with a focus on education, inspiration and entertainment.”

Last year entries almost doubled to 130 bands nationwide. Glen says this year the competition covers more regions and expects a further increase to entry numbers.

Bands of two or more members, younger than Year 9, who play a short set of covers or original songs, are eligible to enter.

To encourage students to write their own music, awards are presented to bands with the best original song.

But Glenn says the focus is on performance skills.

He says support from teachers and schools is essential to make the competition work, and give kids an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

'There's heaps of enthusiasm from the young bands that are entering Rockshop Bandquest.

'We're seeing quite a level of sophistication in their performances and significant technical skill both instrumentally and vocally – they are confident and competent.”

This year Rockshop Bandquest will be held in Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Tauranga, Napier, Hamilton and Auckland, with online entries for bands in outlying areas.

There will be mentoring sessions from successful Smokefreerockquest bands in the afternoon of the regional events and an online national final.

Major sponsor, Rockshop, donates prizes of musical equipment, which go to the winners' schools.

Bandquest entries close on Thursday, September 26, with the first contests in Auckland at the end of October.

Rockshop Bandquest runs from 7pm – 9pm, venue details and ticketing information online at bandquest.co.nz

Rockshop Bandquest dates 2013

Northshore – October 30, Auckland Girls Grammar Auditorium

Auckland - October 31, Auckland Girls Grammar Auditorium

Waikato - November 13, Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton

Bay of Plenty - November 14, Baycourt Theatre, Tauranga

Hawkes Bay - November 6, Municipal Theatre, Napier

Wellington - November 7, Secret Level, Wellington
Nelson - November 9, Theatre Royal – Nelson

Canterbury 1 - November 13, Venue to be confirmed

Canterbury 2 - November 14, Aurora Centre, Christchurch

Otago - November 18, King and Queen's PAC, Dunedin

Online entries – bands from other regions can post links to their videos by November 8, with the online final on YouTube on November 15.

National Final - held online December 2, 2013.