Locals line up for a chance to rock it with the big boys

Hong Kong's annual Rockit Festival is approaching fast, but those who can't wait a few weeks to get a fix of live rock'n'roll can get a taste of what's to come at the Play at Rockit auditions for local bands.

More than 60 acts have signed up for the series of 14 auditions that will be held around town, but only 10 will be picked to play alongside international names such as Feeder and the Brian Jonestown Massacre at the festival in Victoria Park on November 12 and 13.

Nimal Jayawardena, managing partner of festival organiser Matrix Entertainment Group, says the bands are being judged independently by local musicians and media, and representatives of festival sponsors Heineken.

'The judges will be looking at the bands' overall live performance, because there's a big difference between recorded material and live shows,' he says. 'That's what the festival is all about - encouraging people to play to a wider audience.

'We've noticed that sometimes just 10 or 15 people turn up for live shows at places like Amnesia, but Rockit gives them much more exposure and the chance to play alongside international acts.'

Music bar Amnesia, which is owned by Jayawardena, is hosting most of the auditions, but some will be held in various Tsim Sha Tsui bars and even a branch of the I.T fashion chain. Getting a slot on the main stage will be the priority for the local acts, but most will have to settle for the smaller marquee nearby.

'We're going to introduce a ranking system this year,' says Jayawardena. 'The bands that score the highest will get to play on the main stage, and the others will be in the marquee. But the bands won't know where they're playing until they turn up on the day.