Rockquest win for A Bit Nigel

THIRD TIME ROUND: ABN are old hands at the Smokefreerockquest, having made it through to the national finals two years running. From left: Hamish Nixon and Sam Marshall from Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, w

It was third time lucky for Rotorua and Taupo band, A Bit Nigel, who took out this year's Smokefreerockquest in Auckland last night.

The indie-rock outfit made up of Hamish Nixon, Sam Marshall, and Manawa Veitayaki had previously made it to the national finals twice before. The band consisted of students from
Taupo-nui-a-Tia College and Rotorua Boys' High School.

Judge Clint Roberts said A Bit Nigel had real potential to be New Zealand's next big thing.

"They're a young band with a fresh sound - they've got originality, they've got swagger, musicality, and they were at home on the stage," he said.

"The lead singer [Hamish Nixon] had an effortless interaction with the crowd and they look set to make it commercially in the music industry."

A Bit Nigel won $10,000 worth of musical gear from the New Zealand Rockshops and will get a 'Making Tracks' recording and music video grant from NZ on Air, inclusion on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support, and video play on youth music channel FOUR.

Rotorua band Aftershock had also made it to the finals with seven other bands.