Smokefreerockquest 2016 – Hawkes Bay solo duo and band heats results

Hawkes Bay teenager Mia Sohnge may be the next Smokefreerockquest solo-duo success story after taking out this title at the Hawkes Bay regional heats at the Napier Boys High School on Sunday.

Mia performs under just her first name and says her sound is hard to pin down. The year 13 student from Taradale High School attributes her win to her ability to connect to the audience.

“So many of the solo/duos this year were incredible. I was nervous, but it was also a really fun time,” she said. “I always write about things that are close to home and my songs connect to people and their experiences.”

Power Plug from St John’s College placed second, with Jake Dunn on vocals and Hayden Robertson on guitar.

These two solo-duos now submit 15 mins of their best material for selection to play at the national finals in September.

The 12 top bands selected at the heats will go on to play off for the top two places and other awards at the regional final at Napier Minicipal Theatre on Saturday, 18 June, start time 7pm, tickets from Ticketek.

The 12 bands selected to go on to the final are:

Headlock Havelock North High School

The Youth Theory Napier Girls' High School

Fyveyes Napier Boys' High School

Jupiter Taradale High School Sacred Heart College

Unmasquerade Napier Girls' High School
Critical Theory Napier Boys' High School

Precious Years Havelock North High School

Regal in Black Napier Girls' High School

Horizon Hastings Boys' High School

The Heck Havelock North High School

CEMystery Central Hawkes Bay College

Ommiam Havelock North High School

Founder and director Glenn Common said the standard at the heats just keeps going up as entrants get more support for contemporary music from their schools and have access to on line information resources.

“Between now and the regional final they go through all the aspects that make Smokefreerockquest and Pacifica Beats such valuable learning experiences for young people,” he said. “The 12 bands going on to the finals need to practise hard, craft their set, get their supporters rallied and make good use of networking opportunties and social media to promote themselves and their achievements.”

The regional events for both Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica beats run from May 13 until July 2, with the top regional bands and solo/duos submitting video footage for selection to play off at 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 is also 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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