Rotorua's blues scene is in good hands, according to the organisers of a youth guitar workshop and competition in Rotorua over Queen's Birthday weekend. The event was run by the organisers of Bluesfest and it provided Rotorua youngsters with an opportunity to interact with some of the city's top blues musicians. Thecompetition was won by Rotorua 19-year-old Rawiri Thomas Hare and runner-up was talented 13-year-old Western Heights High School student Ben Weblin. Youth guitar workshop co-ordinator Heather Vail said 21 people, aged between 13 and 19, entered the workshop on Sunday morning. She said the one-day workshop was taken by local guitar tutor Richard Anaru, with help from Rotorua bluesman Mike Garner. "Richard spoke about the history of the blues worldwide ... then took a Q&A session with Mike on stage," Ms Vail said. She said the participants were split into groups and seven of the most talented were chosen to go through to the finals on Sunday night. "That night the seven finalists got up on stage and played two different pieces with a backing band of some of Rotorua's best musicians," Ms Vail said. She said the winner took home a brand new Marshall amplifier and the runner-up received a $100 gift voucher and a ukulele, with all prizes donated by the Rotorua Rock Shop. Competition co-judge Anton Elkington said he was excited by the amount of young talent evident in the Rotorua blues scene. "They were all great players and we had a hard time judging them. Technically they were very good too, it was very close. "Rawiri won because he really had a blues thing going on, he has a great feeling for the blues. "Young Ben was also very good. "It would have been hard for them to step out on to the stage but they all showed a lot of confidence," Mr Elkington said.
