Younger rockers ready for their own band battle

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Young and talented rockers are ready to take the stage in Gisborne next week for the Rockshop Bandquest East Coast.

There are a record 215 young school bands lined up across New Zealand for this year’s Rockshop Bandquest, the nationwide music contest for intermediate and primary students.

Battling it out on stage will be One Connection, Front Cover, 1978, Outa Time, Copyright and New Zealand Revival from Ilminster Intermediate.

Gisborne Intermediate bands include Simon Says, Monday and Thursday.

Makauri School has a band called Makauri Magic, there’s the Waerenga o Kuri Band from Waerenga o Kuri School, Whakaute from Cobham School, Invisible Guns from Campion College and Zip It Now from Wainui Beach School.

Bandquest is in its eighth year as the younger sibling of Smokefreerockquest, and the level of talent just keeps on rising.

Founder and director Glenn Common says Rockshop Bandquest is a vehicle to develop this talent, with 15 live events this year, as well as an online contest for bands from outlying regions.

“Schools are responding to the opportunity to give young bands the experience of performing on a fully set-up stage, with a light show and professionally mixed sound,” he said.

“Really, it’s all about giving the kids an experience that extends them, that puts them under the pressure that comes with live performance and the exhilaration that is its reward.”

Monday September 3, Gisborne War Memorial Theatre, start time 7pm, $10 plus booking fee from Ticket Direct and at the door.