YOUNG people have shown the Newcastle music scene is alive and rocking at the annual YouthRock competition.
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Thirteen of the 44 groups in the high school band competition in 2010 are from Hunter schools, including five from Warners Bay High School.
The competition, run by the ArriveAlive campaign during Youth Week, helped launch the careers of Silverchair, Alex Lloyd and Benjalu.
Newcastle bands have a long history of success in the competition with wins in 2004, 2006 and 2007.
When Silverchair entered they were known as Newcastle High's The Innocent Criminals.
Semi-finals started at Sutherland Entertainment Centre on Wednesday and the grand final will be held tomorrow.
Powerage, from Maitland High, took out the second semi-final on Thursday night.
The band is Ben Crawford, Zac Crawford, Nikk Minett and Jeremy Minett.
YouthRock winners get $10,000 worth of prizes including recording studio time, CD manufacture, rehearsal studio time, equipment, photoshoots, business affairs advice, support gigs, internet space and CDs.