Rotorua student gets award at regional final of Rockshop Bandquest

Mokoia Intermediate band Reverb, (from left) Caitlin Newson, Sam Reid, Kairoau Armstrong, Mihi Mihake, Connor Wait, Oscar Lawson, and Robbie Dalziel. Photo/File

Rotorua student Caitlin Newson received the Best Keyboardist award at the Bay of Plenty regional final of Rockshop Bandquest.

Caitlin, from Mokoia Intermediate, is a member of the band Reverb. The regional final was held at the Otumoetai College hall last night.

Revolution Radio from Mount Maunganui Intermediate took out the Bay of Plenty regional final of Rockshop Bandquest.

They win credit with The Rockshop to the value of $400 for their school, while Unknown Vibes from Mount Maunganui Intermediate took second place, winning $200 credit with The Rockshop for their school.

Rockshop Bandquest is for bands of two or more members, from intermediate or primary schools, who play a short set of covers or original songs.

Now in its seventh year, founder and director Glenn Common said children at intermediate age were really ready to take the Bandquest stage.

"They've got aspirational heroes in the Kiwi music scene, they can record and edit on their phones or iPads and they're watching talent shows.

"Rockshop Bandquest gives them the opportunity to perform in front of a real live audience, and they certainly rise to the occasion."

Rockshop spokesman Hamish Jackson said the prizes made a real difference to a school music department.

"Gear in school music departments could just about always be better and we make sure the credit vouchers go a long way," he said.

"The national first prize of $3000 is significant - last year Wanganui Intermediate used it to set up their music department with a mixing desk."

There are 12 live regional finals in Rockshop Bandquest this year, with mentoring sessions from successful Smokefreerockquest bands in the afternoon of the regional events.

There is an online competition for bands in outlying areas and an online national final announcement later in September, via bandquest.co.nz.

The full list of awards made at the Bay of Plenty regional final is:

- 1st Place winning $400 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Revolution Radio, Mount Maunganui Intermediate

- 2nd Place, winning $200 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Unknown Vibes, Mount Maunganui Intermediate

- 3rd Place, winning $100 credit with The Rockshop for their school. Ambassador, Otumoetai Intermediate

- Best Original Song Award, winning $100 cash for their school: Unknown Vibes, Mount Maunganui Intermediate

- Best Original Lyric Award, winning $50 cash for their school: E Tu, Tauranga Intermediate School

- Female Vocalist Award: Jade Tipene, Vinyl, Otumoetai Intermediate

- Male Vocalist Award: Nixon Ririnui, Bird House, Otumoetai Intermediate

- Musicianship Award: Sarah Lee, Vinyl, Otumoetai Intermediate

- Rockstar Styles Award: GreVouS, Greerton Village School

- Killer Guitarist Award: Darcy Bassett, KEJJ-D.C., Tauranga Intermediate School

- Rock-Solid Bassist Award: Cameron Togiatau, Fuel, Hilltop School

- Rocking Drummer Award: Luca Robinson, Frequencies, Mount Maunganui Intermediate

- Best Keyboardist: Caitlin Newson, Reverb, Mokoia Intermediate. Rotorua