Local band's success

When local band Emanon took the stage in the Rockshop Bandquest last night, they left a lasting impression with the competition judges.

The energetic performance of the band _ a group of Year 8 students from Pongakawa School _ saw them take out the Stage Presence Award, ahead of other Bay of Plenty and Waikato school bands.

The Rockshop Bandquest is a live music competition for primary and intermediate school students. This year was the second annual event.

Founder and director Glenn Common said the contest was the "younger sibling'' of the Smokefree Rockquest, and was launched last year at the request of teachers who wanted a platform for their students to show off their musical skills.

A staff member at Pongakawa school said the band Emanon had been together for about a year.

The group consisted of two girls and three boys, who played drums, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, lead guitar and vocals.

At the regional event in Hamilton last night, first place winners were Manawarere Boys Band from Te Kura Kaupapa Motuhake o Tawhiuau in Murupara.

Vibrance from Fairfield Intermediate, Hamilton, placed second and Cup of Tea from Kaitao Middle School, Rotorua, placed third.

Other regional competitions are set to be held in Auckland, Christchurch, Nelson and Napier, with an online contest for bands where there is no regional final.

The national final will be held via the website www.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 will receive $2000 worth of gear from NZ Rockshops.

Other awards at the Waikato/Bay of Plenty regional event were:

Best Original Lyrics - Sahara from Te Awamutu Intermediate
Best Original Song - Girlz Record from Marian School
Best Male Vocalist - VT60 from Marian School
Best Female Vocalist - Wahinetapu Murch of Sour Lemons from Taupo Intermediate
Musicianship - Matthew Burtonshaw, the guitarist from Epic, Te Awamutu Intermediate