Cardboard Kings chase spot at rockquest final

Cardboard Kings played a winning hand to fly through to Waikato's smokefreerockquest regional finals.

Folk-rock band Cardboard Kings (a combination of Hamilton Girls' High and Boys' High students), inspired by Mumford and Sons and Young Lyre made their first step into the music industry.

Unfortunately, the cards didn't all fall in their favour.

The band will be a king short and unable to play in the regional final show as one of the band members will be overseas.

However, this won't put a dent in the band's chances of making it to the national final.

Cardboard Kings will soldier on by creating a video comprising four of their best songs for the judges as an alternative to performing live.

Vocalist Micah Hankins says one of the band members also does filming and photography, which will help them in being able to create a video entry.

Micah says the band was started to enter rockquest as, "we all have a love of music and wanted to show what we have to offer".

The heats were extremely exciting for the band, with Micah saying, "It was a really cool experience."

The band made an effort by presenting themselves well for their performance at the Waikato heats, co-ordinating outfits and having little cardboard brooches in the shape of crowns.

When it was announced Cardboard Kings were through to the regionals Micah "was so stoked, I couldn't move".

The best thing about Smokefree rockquest to Micah is it gives people the chance to get the first step to showing what their band is about.

Micah says other musicians and bands wanting to get involved with rockquest should be original and creative and most of all have fun.

Cardboard Kings are hoping all their hard work will score a spot at the national final at Claudelands Events Centre later in the year to compete with the best school bands from throughout New Zealand.

Keep updated with Cardboard Kings through their Facebook page and head to the regional finals on June 29 at Clarence St Theatre to support local bands. Tickets $20. More details at smokefreerockquest.