Smokefreerockquest 2016 – Northland finals results

They placed second last year at the national finals of both Smokefreerockquest and Pacifica Beats and on Friday night took out the Northland regional title for 2016.

Three piece metal band Alien Weaponry from Bream Bay College and Otamatea High School won in front of a crowd of 250 at Forum North. The members are brothers Lewis de Jong (guitar/vocals, 16), Henry de Jong (drums, 14) and Ethan Trembath (bass, 14).

The de Jongs formed the band in 2010 and were joined by Ethan two years later. Spokesman Henry de Jong says playing in front of their peers was ‘pretty awesome’.

“Our mates from school don’t get to see us play because we’re usually playing in bars and they’re not allowed in,” he said. “We got an awesome crowd response.”

Ethan thinks the stand out factor for the judges was the Maori elements in their performance.

“Incorporating haka and Te Reo into metal is not common but it works really well,” he says. “It’s a high energy stage show – Lewis was leaping around and it all must have helped to wow the judges.”

Alien Weaponry also won the Smokefree Pacifica Beats Award on Friday night.

The Monkey Assassins from Rodney College placed second. The band members are Shane Richards on rhythm guitar and vocals and Buster Clark on drums. These two bands win musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops and their suppliers. They now submit 15 minutes of their best material for selection as national finalists; along with the top two solo-duos from Northland announced at the regional heats last week, Izaia Tilialo from Kamo High School and Huia Shortland from Te Kapehu Whetu Teina, performing as ‘Izaia and Huia’, and Guy Yarrall from Kerikeri High School.

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

“They have to submit video footage of their original music that will be judged in August as we lead up to the national final,” he said. “This process not only demands musical ability and creativity, they also learn to work together as a group and to develop the organisation and promotional skills they’ll need if they're going to make it on the Kiwi music scene.”

The full list of awards made on Friday was:

Band 1st: Alien Weaponry from Bream Bay College and Otamatea High School

Band 2nd: The Monkey Assassins from Rodney College

Band 3rd: Southgate from Mahurangi College

Smokefree Pacifica Beats Award: Alien Weaponry from Bream Bay College and Otamatea High School

Solo/Duo 1st (announced at heats): Izaia Tilialo from Kamo High School and Huia Shortland from Te Kapehu Whetu Teina

Solo/Duo 2nd (announced at heats): Guy Yarrall from Kerikeri High School

APRA Lyric Award: Izaia Tilialo from Kamo High School and Huia Shortland from Te Kapehu Whetu Teina

Dominate Style Award: Take 2 from Huanui College

Lowdown Best Song: Room 44 from Whangarei Girls’ High School

The Mainz Musicianship Award: Katene Cotton, the bassist from Take 2, Huanui College

Smokefree Vocals Award: Te Rina Kahle and Fairy-Allen Rikihana from WHC, Whangaroa College

People’s Choice voted by text: Re-Bound from Rodney College

The regional events for both Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica beats run from May 13 until July 2, with the Smokefree Pacifica Beats national final on Friday September 23 at the Raye Freedman Centre in Auckland, followed by the Smokefreerockquest national on Saturday September 24.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners that includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, a $20,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package’ a ‘Decent Exposure’ campaign on The Edge TV, a photo shoot and branding package from Imaginary Friends.

There are also national awards including the MAINZ (Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand) Scholarship for Outstanding Musicianship, the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, Smokefree Vocals Award, the Dominate Style Award and the People’s Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the Smokefreerockquest national final.

ENDS

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