Bay of Plenty bands and soloists are set to rock the Tauranga stage this weekend at the Smokefreerockquest regional competition.

Now in its 26th year, the Smokefreerockquest is hosting the Bay of Plenty heats on Saturday at Baycourt Community and Arts Centre, with 15 bands set to take to the stage.

Last year's Smokefreerockquest entrants Tauranga Girls' College, Otumoetai College and Tauranga Boys' College band ‘Chase Replica.'

About 3000 young people are expected to be put through regional heats and finals in 24 towns, from Invercargill to Kerikeri.

Founder and director Glenn Common says for many of the entrants this will be their first time on stage in front of audience.

'When you're in front of an audience you get an immediate response, it's a two way exchange of energy and it's even more personal when you're playing your own songs.”

He says while audience reaction may cause some bands to falter, others may play better than they ever thought they could.

'That's the value of what Smokefreerockquest offers – it's a live experience as opposed to putting a video clip up on the internet.”

The top 10 bands and two soloists or duos are selected at the heats to play off at the BOP final at Baycourt on June 20.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners' prize packages for bands and soloist or duo winners, which include musical gear worth up to $13000, inclusion on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support, and video play on youth music channel four.

There is also the Music and Audio Institute of NZ Scholarship for Outstanding Musicianship, Australasian Performing Right Association Lyric Award, Lowdown Best Song Award, Smokefree Women's Musicianship Award and People's Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the SFRQ National final.

The Tauranga heats are on at Baycourt on Saturday from 1pm. For details, visit: www.sfrq.co.nz

The Bay of Plenty bands performing at Baycourt on Saturday, May 17, are:

Sammie Dudley Mount Maunganui College

Jack Burns Whangamata Area School

Ben Mollison Bethlehem College

B Otumoetai College

Kara and Hope Otumoetai College

Georgia Lines Bethlehem College

The Most Popular Girls in School Aquinas College

Joes Van Mount Maunganui College

The Young Droogs Papamoa College, Paeroa College

Liquid Sun Katikati College, Waihi College

Hello Realism Mount Maunganui College

Zuhana Katikati College

Phonics Otumoetai College

Increase5 Otumoetai Intermediate

Elusive Tauranga Boys' College