2013 Smokefreerockquest - Timaru Region Final Results

2013 SMOKEFREEROCKQUEST - 25 YEARS OF KIWI MUSIC SUCCESS

Timaru Region Final Results

The Timaru regional final of Smokefreerockquest was déjà vu for four piece band Bitter Class, which took out first place at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night for the second year running.

Ruby Fraser (lead guitar and vocals - Craighead) says there have been some changes in the line up, with Aidan Clark from Roncalli College joining them on drums, Kelsey Scott from Geraldine High School on bass, along with younger sister Charlotte Fraser (lead vocals) and Johanna Zonnevylle (rhythm guitar) both from Craighead Diocesan School.

Ruby, who also won the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award, says their name, Bitter Class, can also mean Bit of Class: “This is what our music’s like – it’s classy but we keep it natural on stage - not over the top and not boring. It’s a commerical sound, the sort of thing you’d hear on the radio with elements of rock, punk, funk and pop.”

Second place in the band category went to Act of Chaos from Roncalli College, made up up of Dane Oates (drums and vocals), Brendan Ballantyne (bass), Jamie Scott (rhythm guitar), and Ryan Li (lead guitar and vocals) who also won the Mainz Musicanship Award with the opportunity to win a scholarship worth $4500, announced at the national final.

First place in this year’s new section for solo/duo muscians went to Amelia and Danielle from Ashburton College. Amelia James says she and Danielle Rigby have played the country music awards circuit since they were eight or nine years old, but only teamed up as a duo about four months ago.

“We’re more pop than country,” she says. “Our songs are fun and funky and are about every day teen stuff like summertime, parties, going to the beach.”

Their song on this theme, ‘Sunny Days’, won them the Lowdown Best Song Award.

Second placed solo/duo was Homeless Heroes, Timaru Boys' High School

These four acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the opportunity to gain selection for the national final in Auckland on Saturday September 28.

Founder and director Glenn Common said from here on the Timaru finalists would have to work hard and draw on their creativity to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.

“They now send in videos of their original music that will be judged in August as we lead up to the national final,” he said. “This process demands creativity and musical ability, as well as learning to work together as a group and developing the organisation skills they’ll need if they're going to make it on the Kiwi music scene.”

The full list of awards made on Saturday night were:

First placed band: Bitter Class, Craighead, Roncalli and Ashburton College.

First placed Solo/duo: Amelia and Danielle, Ashburton College

Second placed band: Act of Chaos, Roncalli College

Second placed solo/duo: Homeless Heroes, Timaru Boys High

Third placed band, winning musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops and their suppliers: Titan, Ashburton College

APRA Lyric Award: Jesse Drake & Alex Duthie from Homeless Heroes, Timaru Boys High School

Lowdown Best Song: Amelia and Danielle from Ashburton College for Sunny Days.

The Mainz Musicianship Award with the opportunity to be selected for the $4500 scholarship: Ryan Li, lead guitar and vocals, Act of Chaos, Roncalli College

Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Ruby Fraser, Bitter Class, Craighead.

Skinny Mobile People’s Choice voted by text:  Titan, Ashburton College.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and the solo/duo winners, that include musical gear to a total value of $13,000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, inclusion on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support, and video play on youth music channel FOUR. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award and the Skinny Mobile People’s Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the SFRQ National final.

Finalist judging process: Two bands from each of 23 regional finals send in their videos for selection as one of the six bands to play off in the national final. Judging is done from a pool of 50-60 bands that also includes Rockshop Second Chance, an opening for established bands (playing regular gigs) who don’t feel they played their best on the night. The top two solo/duos from each region go through the same process.

More info at sfrq.co.nz or facebook.com/thesfrq

ENDS

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