Chosen as the people's choice winner at the Timaru regional finals, the band is now able to compete by public vote to win the national people's choice award.
That would mean Kudos would open the finals in Auckland on September 27.
Kudos is made up of Joe Martin, Jack Sinclair, Kyle Andales, Shaun Andales, Alex McCulloch and Shannon Martin.
Despite the disappointment of not being able to compete for the title, opening the show would give the band national exposure.
Winning the regional finals in Timaru had been a great experience, the musicians said.
They expressed a ''massive'' thank you to the Oamaru community for its support, especially its role in the band's winning the regional People's Choice Award.
''[Oamaru] got us that one and it'd be awesome if they could do it again,'' Shannon said.
Up against bands from across the country, they know their chances are slim, but they are determined to get there.
''We want to get up there and show them all up - prove to the judges that we deserved to be there,'' Shannon said.
The group of Waitaki Boys' High School, St Kevin's College and home-schooled students formed Kudos just over a year ago after meeting through the Bedford School of Music.
They have been determined to establish themselves as an original band, ''not just another youth band''.
The public can vote for Kudos in the People's Choice Award by texting 'KUDOS' to 4554 by midnight, September 15.
The band with the most votes wins.
