A trio of Alexandra Primary School (APS) musicians and their band Jagged Rock won best original song with their track "Follow Me" at the Otago region Bandquest recently.

The three pupils in Jagged Rock are Jackson Conway (11), Angus Keene (11) and Grace Foulds (13), who are tutored by Grace’s father, local rock and blues musician Paul Foulds.

Angus, Grace and Jackson said they were all excited prior to their debut, but lots of time spent practising and a rehearsal in front of a Year 13 Dunstan High School class helped them to prepare. 

They were the only band based outside of Dunedin who participated, thanks to the support of their families and teachers who helped them with transport, accommodation, equipment and rehearsals.

Jagged Rock played their original song ‘Follow Me’ in its entirety of four minutes and added some of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers song Snow to complete their six-minute set. 

The Central App asked them what they learned from the experience and they said “not to be scared of a big audience” and getting on stage “was fun and we’d do it again.”

Jackson said the judges feedback was Jagged Rock had “good intros and endings to both songs”, great lyrics and harmony. 

While it’s too early to book them for gigs just yet, the band is keen to stick together and keep playing their version of “chill rock” naming heroes Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Crowded House and Paul Foulds himself as influential to their sound.

Grace said she celebrated the win with a special trip to McDonalds at midnight.

Jagged Rock won a $100 Rockshop prize for the APS music department after performing in Dunedin at the Taieri College Auditorium on Saturday, August 17.  

Jackson, Grace and Angus with their award certificates. PHOTO: Supplied 

Watch Jagged Rock play ‘Follow Me’ at bandquest here. VIDEO: Supplied 

The trio were all involved in the musical production of Oliver during the same week as Bandquest, with Angus playing the lead role of Oliver, so they were still buzzing from both creative performances.

The idea behind their name was their initials, mixed in with some rock n roll cool, tying into Central Otago’s rocky terrain, and like the original song, they collaborated to finalise it.  

Bandquest is an annual series of shows across New Zealand where primary and intermediate school age bands take to the stage. 

It is the fourteenth year of the event, a part of the Rockquest promotions performing arts competitions, including Smokefree Rockquest, Showquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats. 

The aim of the competition is to encourage primary and intermediate aged musicians onto the stage, learn through experience and develop their performance skills alongside their teamwork, communication, goal-setting and leadership skills.

The winners from the various regional shows will go on to the national competition.

The national Bandquest winners would be announced on September 25.