Eight young bands and solo artists will rock out their best performances for the public when the Ultimate Battle of the Musos 2009 starts at X-it Youth Centre on Friday.
Four acts are confirmed to play during the first heat, on September 11, with another four lined up on September 18.
The "Ultimate Muso" will be chosen by a panel of five judges on September 25 and win a support slot with an established band at Revolver.
Teenagers will also compete for the Best Original Song award of professional recording studio time, as judged by Studio 183 owner Dave Allison and singer-songwriter-producer Andrea Cruickshank.
On Friday, these Wakatipu High School pupils will be on stage for the first heat: Matt Milliken, Matiu Gourlay, Connor Williams, Alex Fraser and Josh Baldey, as The Intergalactic Disco Movement; Izzy Mains-Hamilton, Max Gunn, Ryan Bishop, and Henry Bensman, as The Shed Next Door; and Timmy Doyle, Bruno Shirley and Michael Eden, as The Red and White Stripes.
Hertzog Burger will play solo.
The second heat on the following Friday will feature: Jessica van der Kaag, Danielle Voschezang, Belinda Woodward and Bruno Shirley, as Talkback Amp; Jessica Law and Miki Brown, as Majestic; Molly Devine, Jack Devine, Timmy Doyle, Dahn Kim, Russell Stirling and Michael Eden, as Your Grandma; Jordan McInally, Michael Eden, Matt Hill, Alex Fraser and Johnny Soper, as Oswald The Bearded Squirrel.
Professional singers and musicians have also volunteered to entertain the audience with original music and covers.
Sam Ross and Ned Webster are guests this Friday, and Craig Hubber is a guest the following Friday.
Young singer-songwriter-musician David Bell, who was hailed as the Ultimate Muso and won the Best Original Song award last September, returns to perform at the grand final.
X-it Youth Centre volunteer Ben Hawthorne and high school pupil Frances Allan will MC, and the judges will deliberate, on all three nights.
X-it youth worker Fi Sawers said she was very pleased with the response from young singers, musicians and composers.
"The youth have got a lot on at the moment with their internal exams, but they're working hard on their music.
"It should be a cracking three nights. Doors open at 7.15pm. If you want to see the next up-and-coming musicians play, get down to X-it Youth Centre."
