Hearing names such as Josh and the Giraffe, The Spuds, Soc Jad and the Boys, and Basil Jam means you can only be in one place - the Smokefreerockquest.
The Dunedin and South Otago secondary school musicians will be among 24 bands and 11 solo/duo acts competing at the Otago regional Smokefreerockquest heats at Kavanagh College, in Dunedin, next Saturday.
Every one of them has entered with the hope of forging a career in music, just like former contestants such as Broods, Kimbra, Opshop, Evermore, Die!Die!Die!, the Datsuns, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, The Black Seeds, Nesian Mystik, and Bic Runga.
Despite the impressive track record of Kiwi music successes, Carlos McQuillan, from Head Chef, last year's national winning band, said the event was much more about the experience of participation, than winning the top prizes.
Being on stage performing original music was one of the best things you could do as a musician, he said.
''Even if you don't make the national final, entering Smokefreerockquest is a great thing to do because you get to perform with other kids doing the thing they love, just like you, writing and performing music, and you can learn so much from just watching everyone around you.''
Solo-duo section national winner Georgia Lines said she learned success was not just about having a great song.
''It's the whole package - it's about what you say, what you wear, the style of music you play, the angle of the keyboard - everything has to be thought through because it all adds to being memorable.''
The top 10 bands and two solo/duos will be selected during the heats at Kavanagh College, to compete at the Otago regional final at Sammy's on June 19.
A Central Otago final will be held on July 2 for secondary school pupils in the central area.
At the regional finals, the top two solo/duos will play off for first and second place, and both go into the judging pool for the national final, along with the top two bands.
The top regional bands and solo/duos will then submit video footage for selection as one of six bands and three solo/duos to compete at the national final at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre in Auckland on September 11.
The national prize winners packages include $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers; a $20,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package; a Decent Exposure campaign on Channel Four; a photo shoot with Thievery Studio; a branding package from Imaginary Friends; and the Unleashed Travel ambassador award - a seven-day trip to Fiji.
