Nelson Rockshop Bandquest 2016

Nelson Rockshop Bandquest 2016

They’re talented, tuned up and ready to perform in towns from Auckland to Dunedin – just over 160 young school bands are lined up for this year’s Rockshop Bandquest, the nationwide music contest for intermediate and primary students.

Bandquest is in its sixth year as the younger sibling of Smokefreerockquest, and the level of talent just keeps on rising.

Founder and director Glenn Common says Rockshop Bandquest is a vehicle to develop this talent, with 12 live events this year, as well as an online contest for bands from outlying regions.

“Rockshop Bandquest is often these bands’ first experience on a fully set up stage, with a light show and professionally mixed sound,” he said. “This extends them, and puts them under a little bit of pressure in a supportive environment. After five years we can see how this encourages students to continue with their music, with all the benefits that brings in high school, both socially and academically.”

Rockshop Bandquest Nelson is at the Theatre Royal on Saturday Aug 20, start time 7pm, tickets from TicketDirect $10 plus booking fee, or $10 at the door.

The bands contesting Rockshop Bandquest in Nelson are:
D.N.A Nelson Intermediate
Dynamite Girls Riwaka School
TBC Nelson College for Girls Prep
Two Stix Broadgreen Intermediate
Charged Nelson College Prep
15 Minutes a Week Nelson College Prep

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. There is an award for the best original song to encourage bands to write their own material, but the focus is on performance skills.

Rockshop donates prize vouchers to the winners’ schools, and spokesman, Hamish Jackson, says nurturing young bands and giving them the opportunity to perform live makes Rockshop Bandquest a perfect match for the nationwide chain to support.

There will be mentoring sessions from successful Smokefreerockquest bands in the afternoon of the regional events and an online national final announcement later in September, via bandquest.co.nz.

Ends

© Scoop Media