Live music, original songs, ‘selfies' and first time nerves were all part of the Smokefreerockquest Bay of Plenty heats this weekend which saw 10 bands rock their way to the next round of the competition.

Aquinas College's 'The Most Popular Girls In School' is through to the regional finals of Somokefreerockquest. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

A total of 10 bands and three soloists were chosen from 15 entries which rocked Baycourt stage for the regional competition to go through to the regional finals.

Soloists including Mount Maunganui College's Sammie Dudley and Bethlehem College's Georgia Lines and Ben Mollison are the top three musicians.

More than 650 bands and soloists will go through regional heats and finals in 24 towns from Invercargill to Kerikeri between now and July 4.

Founder and director Glenn Common says while Smokefreerockquest is a competition, the environment at the heats is very supportive.

'The entrants encourage each other and provide a response to whoever is on stage...and through the Music Commission we also offer mentoring, where established musicians come to the heats and share their industry experience and knowledge as well as playing a few songs during the judging.”

Starting at 7pm, the Bay of Plenty final is at Baycourt on Friday, June 20.

At the regional final the top two bands are selected into the national finalists' judging pool, and other awards and prizes are presented.

When all regional heats and finals are complete in July, the top regional bands and soloists or duos are judged on videos they send in, for selection as national finalists to play off at Q Theatre in Auckland on September 27.

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 Most Popular Girls In School.

Bethlehem College soloist Georgia Lines.

The top three solo/duos for Bay of Plenty selected at the heats are:

Sammie Dudley Mt Maunganui College

Georgia Lines Bethlehem College

Ben Mollison Bethlehem College

The top 10 bands to play off at the regional final are:

The Most Popular Girls in School Aquinas College

Joes Van Mt Maunganui College

The Young Droogs Papamoa College, Paeroa College

Liquid Sun Katikati College, Waihi College

Hello Realism Mt Maunganui College

Zuhana Katikati College

Phonics Otumoetai College

Increase5 Otumoetai Intermediate

Elusive Tauranga Boys' College