Local hopes for the 2012 Smokefreerockquest were cut to a dozen in last weekend's heats.
Hamilton's Clarence St Theatre will host regional finalists on June 29.
Two St Peter's School outfits - Red Nite Sky and Lisa Hawkins - and two from Hamilton Boys' High - Cardboard Kings and Situation Vacant - made the cut. They will be joined at the regional finals by My Secret Alibi and Splitting the Horizon, from Cambridge High, Eden Hapuku, from Fairfield College and Bermuda Square from Waikato Diocesan School. Bands from Paeroa, Morrinsville, Putaruru and Hauraki Plans colleges complete the dozen finalists.
SFRQ founder and director Glenn Common says he expects to crack more than 800 bands entering - that is about 3000 kids being giving the experience of playing their own music on stage to their peers.
"Smokefreerockquest is an empowering and valuable experience even for the bands who don't make the finals."