Otago Rockshop Bandquest 2014 results

Media Release: Otago Rockshop Bandquest 2014 results

They may be young but they know how to rock – this year’s Otago contestants took the stage last night (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 Otago region attracted ten keen entrants who competed at the Kings and Queens Performing Arts Centre in Dunedin.

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.

The awards made on Wednesday night were:
First place winning $400 credit with The Rockshop for their school: DA Girls,Taieri College; also won the female vocalist award:
Second place winning $200 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Rakiura Rockers, Halfmoon Bay School; they also won the male vocalist award and Timu Moxham won the Rock-Solid Bassist award.
Third place winning $100 credit with The Rockshop for their school: The Unidentifyd, Balmacewen Intermediate; also won the Rockstar Styles award and Mollie Louise Stebbings won the best keyboardist award:
Best original song winning $100 cash for their school: The Gems, Longford Intermediate
Best original lyrics winning $50 cash for their school: From Resurrection, Taieri College; and Joshua Glennie won the Killer Guitarist award
Musicianship award: Adam Tait from Guilty Eyes, John McGlashan College
Rocking drummer award: Hamish King, Instant Crush, Kaikorai Valley College

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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