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/
Ends