Countdown for Rockquest

Finalists Sons of Solomon from Rangitoto College.

The Datsuns, Evermore, Elemeno P, the Checks and Steriogram ...

It reads like the lineup of a Kiwi kid's dream gig, but is actually a snap sample of the outstanding talent discovered by Smokefree Rockquest.

Entering its 18th year, Rockquest has become a key talent spotter for the New Zealand music industry.

Whether you win or lose is irrelevant.

(Most of the above bands never won the competition.)

Being there is everything.

More than 620 bands from throughout New Zealand entered the fierce competition this year, battling it out through heats and finals in a bid to make tomorrow's grand final.

The successful six finalists hail from around the country and showcase a diverse range of talent amongst a new generation of musos.

The Smokefree Rockquest grand final takes place tomorrow evening at the Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna. Tickets are available from Ticketek.

Meanwhile, in other high school music news, Dunedin student Anna MacDonald won the annual Play It Strange National Secondary School Songwriting Competition held at Western Springs College in Auckland last night.

The 15-year-old St Hilda's Collegiate pupil took home the title for her original compilation Blue Butterfly.

Celebrating its third year, the competition has gained a solid following from schools across the country with more than 339 entries this year.

Lynfield College claimed the School of the Year Award, with four students making it into the Top 50.

The finalists are ...

Sons of Solomon
School: Rangitoto College
Hometown: North Shore, Auckland
What to expect: "Expect some old-school hard rock and a bit of music that appeals to everyone. It will be quite an intense show and quite loud because of our instrument-ation. We really try to get the whole crowd involved." James McCully, drums

ADD
School: McLeans College
Hometown: Auckland
What to expect: "Our music is really diverse. We're going to play three songs, each completely different from each other. The first is a kind of reggae song, really simple and catchy. The second is quite slow and clean. And the third is a sort of early 80s, rock'n'roll track." Anson Yang, guitar & vocals

Five Fold Kiss
School: St Patrick's College
Hometown: Silverstream
What to expect: "We're kind of alternative rock. We've got our poppy moments but also really brutal, metal, hardcore times. We're angry and happy." Blair Everson, bass.

Moana Ete
School: Wellington East Girls' College
Hometown: Wellington
What to expect: "I guess it's a laid-back sort of sound, pretty jazzy as well as a pop-rock sound." Moana Ete, solo performer

Neil Robinson
School: Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti
Hometown: Christchurch
What to expect: "Just happy pop music with a dancey edge." Chris Young, guitar & vocals.

Black Market Art
School: Cashmere High School
Hometown: Christchurch
What to expect: "Our genre in two words is nonsense pop. It's poppy, catchy and doesn't make sense. Our songwriter just writes whatever he likes." Matt Scobie, drums.