Jousting Cats, Puzzle Puppets, The FarqVards and Agent Ewok are humble and enthusiastic school rock bands today.
But, in the weeks to come, they could become the hottest new sounds on the Kiwi music scene if they strike the right chords with judges at the 2013 Smokefreerockquest.
They are among the 29 Otago bands preparing for heats which begin on Saturday at the King's and Queen's Performing Arts Centre, in Dunedin.
Now in its 25th year, the nationwide, live, all original youth music competition is expecting about 700 entries for regional heats and finals in 23 towns from Invercargill to Whangarei.
Founder and director Glenn Common said while much had changed in the 25 years the Smokefreerockquest had been running, some things remained the same.
''The enthusiasm of young people for their music, and the way they respond to having a platform to perform to their peers is one of the constants,'' he said.
''These days they can put their video clips up on Youtube, but that hasn't taken the thrill out of getting up on stage in front of a real live crowd.''
Mr Common said there would be separate categories for solo/duo acts and bands this year, in response to comments from entrants and teachers, and the changes would bring the contest more into line with NCEA assessments, under which bands are assessed separately.
All bands are fighting for the national final prize packages, which include musical gear to the value of $13,000, inclusion on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support, and video play on youth music channel Four.
But the biggest prize would be to achieve similar success to former Smokefreerockquest competitors such as Kimbra, Midnight Youth, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Kids of 88, Die!Die!Die!, Annah Mac, Cairo Knife Fight, the Datsuns, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Kora, the Feelers, the Black Seeds, Nesian Mystik, Bic Runga, King Kapisi, and Elemeno P.
