Rockshop Bandquest 2013 Wellington Hutt results
Rock music on the small scale was on stage in Wellington yesterday (Thurs November 7) in this year’s Rockshop Bandquest,
the nationwide music contest for intermediate and primary students.
Bandquest is in its third year as the younger sibling of Smokefreerockquest, and in Wellington and Hutt attracted ten
entrants who competed on Thursday night at Secret Level in Wellington, after an afternoon of mentoring from successful
Smokefreerockquest bands.
Founder and director Pete Rainey says after more than 25 years in youth music production he still gets a kick out of
kids’ creativity.
“Bands are just getting better and better at a younger age,” he said. “They’ve got the role models in the Kiwi music
industry, they are more confident and are picking up a wide range of cultural influences from the internet…Bandquest is
the ideal platform to channel and foster this talent.”
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: Musical Beats, Avalon Intermediate
Second place winning $200 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Unison, Lakeview School
Third place winning $100 credit with The Rockshop for their school:
Best original song winning $100 cash for their school: 77, Hutt Intermediate
Best original lyrics winning $50 cash for their school: Little Miss, Wainuiomata Intermediate
Female vocalist award: Northern Lights, Waikanae School
Male vocalist award: 7th Floor, Hutt Intermediate
Musicianship award: bass player from Musical Beats, Avalon Intermediate
Rockstar Styles award: Musical Beats, Avalon Intermediate
‘Killer’ guitarist award: The Fundamentalists, Raroa Normal Intermediate
Rock-solid bassist award: The Fundamentalists, Raroa Normal Intermediate
Rocking drummer award: Unison, Lakeview School
Best keyboardist award: 77, Hutt Intermediate
Rockshop spokesman, Hamish Jackson, says the nationwide company is firmly behind the benefits of music at this age
level.
“Bandquest encourages participation and opportunity through music - intermediate kids are talented and very creative and
it’s great to see them involved in music at school,” he said. “We hope they continue this musical journey through their
Bandquest experience.”
This year over 140 bands have entered Rockshop Bandquest, competing in Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington,
Tauranga, 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 on 15th
Nov, via You Tube.
Ends