Last year's national finalists A Bit Nigel from Taupo-nui-a-Tia College came back with more experience to win the Rotorua Smokefreerockquest regional final at the Convention Centre on Friday night.
Hamish Nixon, lead guitar and vocals, Sam Marshall, bass and synthesizer player and Manawa Veitayaki on drums and backing vocals took their pop-rock sound to the Smokefreerockquest stage for the third year, building on the harmonies and melodic songs that saw them playoff in the top six bands nationwide in 2011.
Sam Marshall said their experience stood them in good stead, but also put them under pressure.
"We practiced really hard because we thought the judges might be tougher on us this time round," he says.
"Our sound has changed a bit and is more rocky with more synth. A lot of people knew us from last year and we had supporters over from Taupo so the crowd response was pretty good."
Second place went to Aftershock from Western Heights High School and John Paul College, whose members are Lukas Wharekura, Shaun Loper, Oliver Prendergast and Chris Everest.
These top two bands win musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops and go on to compete for one of eight national finalist spots in this year's Smokefreerockquest national final at Claudelands in Hamilton on 22 September.
Rockquest Promotions Founders and Directors Glenn Common and Pete Rainey said from here on the Rotorua finalists would have to work hard and draw on their creativity to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.
"In August judges will be selecting the eight finalists from DVDs of their own original music," Common said. "There are a range of skills they'll need to pull this together - creativity and musical ability are important, but they also learn to work together as a group and have to be well organised to produce the video footage that could be their next step towards Kiwi music success."
The eight national finalists will be selected from a pool made up of first and second place-getters from each of the 24 regional finals, and bands from Rockshop Second Chance, an opportunity for established bands who feel they didn't play at their best on the night.
Smokefreerockquest powered by Rockshop, has a prize package that includes musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, a NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth over $10,000, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, a radio promotional support for a single, and video play on youth music channel FOUR. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, the Smokefree Women's Musicianship Award and the Skinny People's Choice, voted by text, with the opportunity to open at the SFRQ National final.
Other regional awards made on Friday night.
Third place winning musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops, and the Lowdown Best Song Award: singer songwriter Rangimarie Piraka, Rotorua Lakes High School
APRA Lyric Award and Smokefree Award For Women's Musicianship: singer songwriter Ruby Solly, Tauhara College
The Mainz Musicianship Award with the opportunity to be selected for the $4500 Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship, announced at the national final: singer songwriter Logan Forster, Western Heights High School
Skinny People's Choice voted by text: Aftershock from Western Heights High School and John Paul College.