Rockshop Bandquest 2013 Otago results - win for Arrowtown

Rockshop Bandquest 2013 Otago results - win for Arrowtown

Rock music on the small scale was on stage in Dunedin on Monday 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 Otago attracted 13 entrants who competed on Monday at the Kings and Queens Performing Arts Centre.

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.

The Otago results are:

• First place winning $400 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Freckled Mangoes, Arrowtown Primary

• Second place winning $200 credit with The Rockshop for their school: The Third Degree, Taieri College

• Third place winning $100 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Glass Nails, Balmacewen Intermediate

• Best original song winning $100 cash for their school: The Elements, Taieri College

• Best original lyrics winning $50 cash for their school: Stolen Thoughts, Balmacewen Intermediate

• Female vocalist award: guitarist from The Elements, Taieri College

• Male vocalist award: all the singers from The Third Degree, Taieri College

• Musicianship award: Sax player from Eclipse, Kaikorai Valley College

• Rockstar Styles award: Maraca player from The College Strings, Blue Mountain College

• ‘Killer’ guitarist award: Freckled Mangoes, Arrowtown Primary

• Rock-solid bassist award: Minions, Kaikorai Valley College

• Best keyboardist award: Minions, Kaikorai Valley College

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 in the afternoon of each regional event, guest appearances from successful Smokefreerockquest bands; and on-line entries for bands in outlying areas. There will be an online national final later in November, via You Tube.

Ends

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