THIRD TIME ROUND: ABN are old hands at the Smokefreerockquest, having made it through to the national finals two years running. From left: Hamish Nixon and Sam Marshall from Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, w
It was third time lucky for Rotorua and Taupo band, A Bit Nigel, who took out this year's Smokefreerockquest in Auckland last night.
The indie-rock outfit made up of Hamish Nixon, Sam Marshall, and Manawa Veitayaki had previously made it to the national finals twice before. The band consisted of
students from
Taupo-nui-a-Tia College and Rotorua Boys' High School.
Judge Clint Roberts said A Bit Nigel had real potential to be New Zealand's next big thing.
"They're a young band with a fresh sound - they've got originality, they've got swagger, musicality, and they were at home on the stage," he said.
"The lead singer [Hamish Nixon] had an effortless interaction with the crowd and they look set to make it commercially in the music industry."
