Rockshop Bandquest 2014 results

Media Release: Rockshop Bandquest 2014 results

They may be young but they know how to rock – this year’s Waikato contestants took the stage on Wednesday (20/8) in this year’s 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 Waikato region attracted 15 keen entrants who played off at the Clarence Street Theatre in Hamilton.

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 went to:

First place winning $400 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Phased Out. Fairfield Intermediate

Second place winning $200 credit with The Rockshop for their school: The Black Sound, Berkley Middle School

Third place winning $100 credit with The Rockshop for their school and best original lyrics winning $50 cash for their school: Absurd, Berkley Middle School

Best original song winning $100 cash for their school: Summer Souls, Te Pahu School

Female vocalist award: Skylah Peneho, from Young Blood, Taupo Intermediate

Male vocalist award: Finn Hammill from Wha Out, Te Pahu School

Musicianship award and rock-solid bassist award: Jordan Dorman, from Phased Out, Fairfield Intermediate

Rockstar Styles award: Lighthouse & the Rock Berry, Marian School

‘Killer’ guitarist award: Seshan Weeraratne from Eclipse, Marian School

Rocking drummer award: Jessica Foster from Kick Back, Ohaupo Primary

Best keyboardist award: Daniel Overington from In Charge, St Peter’s School

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 are 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 http://bandquest.co.nz/

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