Rotorua regional Battle of the Bands set to go off

Rotorua's most talented youth bands will compete at the Smokefreerockquest regional finals competition in Taupo.

The Great Lake Centre in Taupo will host the regional finals of the competition for the first time tomorrow.

The Rotorua regional finals are usually held in Rotorua but have been moved to Taupo to incorporate the wider area.

The 10 bands and two solo/duos to play off tomorrow were selected during the heats in May.

Smokefreerockquest founder and director Glenn Common said he was expecting the usual wide age-range in the audience tomorrow night.

"As well as peer support, we see grandparents and parents coming along to Smokefreerockquest to see their kids excel on stage, under lights in a real theatre.

"It's a professional set-up and they respond to this opportunity."

Tomorrow's final starts at 7pm, with tickets costing $20 from Ticketek or at the door.

At the Rotorua final, first and second place for the solo/duos will be announced, along with awards for the top three bands - the MAINZ Musicianship Award, Smokefree Award For Women's Musicianship, Lowdown Best Song, the APRA Lyrics Award and the Skinny Mobile People's Choice voted by text. The top two bands and two solo/duos will send in their videos for selection as one of the six bands and two solo/duos to play off at the national final in Auckland on September 28.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners' prize packages for bands and the solo/duo winners.

These include musical gear to a value of $13,000 from NZ Rockshops, inclusion on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support, and video play on youth music channel FOUR.

 The Rotorua finalists include:

Loft, Kingdom, Out of Tunar (Western Heights High School), Burning Skies, Ellie Redmond (Taupo-nui-a-Tia College), Zenith, Fair Ground (Rotorua Lakes High School), Puoro Kaupare (Tarawera High School), Title (Rotorua Girls' High School), Toi Toi Tree (John Paul College and Rotorua Lakes High School), ABN (Taupo-nui-a-Tia College and Rotorua Boys' High School), Aftershock (Western Heights High School and John Paul College).