Mokoia Intermediate band Reverb are ready to take the stage in the regional finals of this year's Rockshop Bandquest.
There are 177 schools performing in the nationwide music contest of intermediate and primary school pupils.
Bandquest is in its seventh year as the younger sibling of Smokefreerockquest, and founder and director Glenn Common says the level of talent keeps rising.
"With six years of these young bands feeding into Smokefreerockquest we can see how this encouragement helps students to progress musically, with all the benefits that brings in high school, both socially and academically."
The Mokoia Intermediate band was formed at the start of the year after an audition process.
Mokoia Intermediate band Reverb, (from left) Caitlin Newson, Sam Reid, Kairoau Armstrong, Mihi Mihake, Connor Wait, Oscar Lawson, and Robbie Dalziel are set to take on Bandquest. Photo/Ben Fraser
Caitlin Newson, Year 7 pupil and pianist, was excited for the experience.
"It's cool spending time with all of my friends.
"I am a tiny bit nervous, I've only ever performed in church, never an audience this big."
Lead guitarist and Year 8 pupil Connor Wait said he had been practising two hours a day after school.
"We practise at school too, about an hour every Wednesday, sometimes more," he said.
Rockshop Bandquest Bay of Plenty is on tomorrow at Otumoetai College, start time 7pm, $10 at the door.
Rockshop Bandquest is for bands of three to 10 members, up to and including Year 8, who play one to two 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 supporting young bands and giving them the opportunity to perform live makes Rockshop Bandquest a perfect match for the nationwide chain.
The bands who have entered Rockshop Bandquest in Bay of Plenty: Otumoetai Intermediate, Acoustic Band Pyes Pa School, Blak Axadent Otumoetai Intermediate, Dead End Tauranga Intermediate School, E Tu Mount Maunganui Intermediate, Frequencies Hilltop School, Fuel Greerton Village School, GreVouS Tauranga Intermediate School, Infared Tauranga Intermediate School, KEJJ-D.C. Otumoetai Intermediate, Mixed Band ACG Tauranga, Revival Mount Maunganui Intermediate, Revolution Radio Mokoia Intermediate, Reverb Mount Maunganui Intermediate, Unknown Vibes
