Young bands from Christchurch north played off on Saturday night at the Kaiapoi High School Hall in Rockshop Bandquest, a live music competition for primary and intermediate school students.

Founder and director Glenn Common says the contest is the ‘younger sibling’ of Smokefreerockquest, and was launched last year at the request of teachers who wanted a platform for their students to show off their musical skills.

"There’s a lot more happening at this age level now, thanks partly to the accessibility and affordability of musical instruments," Glenn said. "Mainly they are performing covers and the focus of the contest is on playing skill but there’s also an award for the best original song and for the best original lyrics, to encourage students who are writing their own music."

The winners of the Canterbury II Bandquest were:

First place, winning $400 credit from NZ Rockshops: Fresh, Rowley Avenue School

Second, winning $200 credit from NZ Rockshops: Arythmetic, Kaiapoi Borough School

Third, winning $100 credit from NZ Rockshops: Neon Flux, Cobham Intermediate

Best Original Song and Best Original Lyrics: Restart, by Infinity, Chisnallwood Intermediate

Stage Energy: Fresh, Rowley Avenue School

Best Vocals: Oscar Wilson, Neon Flux, Cobham Intermediate

Best Musicianship: True Culture, Chisnallwood Intermediate

Contests have also been held in Auckland, Hamilton, Nelson and Napier, with an online contest for bands where there was no regional final. The first Canterbury event was last weekend at the Jack Mann Auditorium.

The national final will be held via the website bandquest.co.nz where video footage from the regionals will be posted on September 27, with the results announced later that day.

The national winner’s school gets $2000 worth of gear from NZ Rockshops, the event’s naming sponsor.

Find out more at bandquest.co.nz