Wellington & Hutt Rockshop Bandquest 2014 results

Media Release: Wellington & Hutt Rockshop Bandquest 2014 results

They may be young but they know how to rock – this year’s Wellington and Hutt contestants took the stage on last night (Wednesday 3 September) in the regional final of Rockshop Bandquest, the nationwide music contest for intermediate and primary students.

Bandquest is in its fourth year as the younger sibling of Smokefreerockquest, and in the Wellington and Hutt region attracted twelve keen entrants who competed at the Porirua Little Theatre.

Event organizer Matt Ealand says the performances from this age group mix sophistication with a lack of self-consciousness.

“They’ve been watching TV and YouTube, they’re aware of what established musicians are doing and they want to emulate them,” he said. “But they are not worried about being mocked – they just get up there and give it heaps.”

Rockshop Bandquest is for bands of two or more members, from intermediate or primary schools, who play a short set of covers or original songs, with a focus on performance skills.

First place winning $400 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Whanaungatanga, Avalon Intermediate
Second place winning $200 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Sleek, Naenae Intermediate
Third place winning $100 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Sold Out Sound, Hutt Intermediate
Best original song winning $100 cash for their school: Peyton Maete from EeeTee, Te Horo Primary, she also won the musicianship award
Best original lyrics winning $50 cash for their school: New Found Sound, Tawa Intermediate
Female vocalist award: Millie and Toni from Sound Legacy, Hutt Intermediate; Leroy Paton from this band won the best keyboardist award
Male vocalist award: Jack Penman from The Guilt Trip, Hutt Intermediate
Rockshop spokesman, Hamish Jackson, says for many of the kids Rockshop Bandquest is the biggest musical moment of their lives.

“It’s great for us to be part of that, “ he says. “Bandquest provides a unique opportunity to intermediate kids, it’s all about participation and giving it a go. The kids definitely throw themselves into it and the results have been amazing.”

This year over 160 bands have entered Rockshop Bandquest, competing in Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Tauranga, Napier, Hamilton and Auckland, with mentoring sessions from successful Smokefreerockquest bands in the afternoon of each regional event, and on-line entries for bands in outlying areas. There will be an online national final announcement on Wednesday 24 September, via bandquest.co.nz.

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