Nelson Smokefreerockquest To Be Held May 21 2011

Nelson’s top teen music talent will take the stage in the Trafalgar Centre on Saturday for Smokefreerockquest, New Zealand’s only nationwide, all original, live, youth music competition.

In this year’s Smokefreerockquest all entrants get the real life experience of rock stardom - performing on the big stage in their region’s major venue. Co-founder and director Glenn Common says interest and entries just keep going up and up (last year was a record 800) and he says it’s because Smokefreerockquest is all about young people.

“Where else can teenagers get up in public and express in their own language, their innermost thoughts about life?” he says. “All we do is support them with equipment and expertise and give them a setting that attracts an audience, then it’s over to them to make the music and sing the songs.”

With entries set to close on May 17 Nelson entrants to date are:

Marley Richards: Nayland College

Amy McEwen: Nelson College For Girls

All That I Despise: Nayland College

Crossfire: Nayland College / Nelson College

What Lies Here: Nayland College / Golden Bay High School

Penny Dreadful And The Newgate Calender: Nayland College

The Black Spots: Golden Bay High School

The Luke and James Experience: Waimea College/ Nayland College

Cadence and the Consequence: Nelson College / College For Girls / Nayland College

Alex: Nelson College

Days of Rain: Waimea College

Made In China: Nayland College

To Catch A Cause: Nelson College

93rd Parallel: Nelson College For Girls/ Nelson College

They will play off on Saturday afternoon from 3pm, with the top bands called back for a playoff beginning at 8pm. Avalanche City will be the guest band to perform while the judging is done. Tickets $20 at Everyman or at the door.

Last year’s regional winners Peasants of Eden continue to perform locally, write songs and expand their repertoire. The band was a support act for Salmonella Dub at a show in Nelson earlier in the year.

The two top Nelson bands go into the final selection process to play at the national final, to be held this year in the new 5000-seat Claudelands Arena in Hamilton on 17 September. The prize package is designed as a big helping hand into the music industry. It includes a NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth $10,000, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshops, recording time at York St Studio, 1000 CDs produced of the winner’s single by Forge Media, and radio and TV play and promotion of the single. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award and the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award.

ENDS

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