Together only a couple of months, Wanganui High School (WHS) alt-rock band Contraband was named Wanganui winner of Smokefree Rockquest.
In front of an enthusiastic audience in the Royal Wanganui Opera House on Friday night, the five-piece band emerged the best, and now - along with the second-placed MK Deep, also from WHS - will join the 23 other regional finalists and send in their video footage for selection as one of the six bands to play off in the national final.
Grace McGregor (WHS) won the solo/duo section and also took out the People's Choice Award voted by text on the night. Kate Van Elswijk (WHS) was runner-up and also won the Smokefree Award For Women's Musicianship.
These two are also eligible for the judging across the other regional winners and judges will select three of them to go to the national final in Auckland on September 27.
Te Paerata Tichbon, lead guitarist for Contraband, said two members - guitarist Amaan Merchant and bassist Finn Brown - had entered the event before. Indeed Finn's brother Max Brown was in the band Culture Kids that made it to the national final in 2012.