CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2003 National Winner

CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2003 National Winner Announced

COKESMOKEFREEROCKQUEST 2003 NATIONAL WINNER ANNOUNCED

Mairehau High School (Christchurch) band 'Falter' has claimed the grand prize and opportunities for nation wide and global recognition at the national final of this year's CokeSmokefreeRockquest.

Bringing down the house at the Bruce Mason Theatre in North Shore, 'Falter' outshone five other talented CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2003 finalists to win $10,000 worth of music equipment vouchers and the opportunity to have their music professionally recorded and produced at York St studio.

'Falter' also win 'The Edge Airplay Award in association with NZ on Air' which will launch their career with the full support and backing of NZ on Air and The Edge. The Christchurch band's indie-rock sounds will also be unleashed on the world via http://www.cokesmokefreerockquest.com. 'Falter' also won the Coke Original Song Award with their second song Falling to Pieces, while lead singer-guitarist Simon Hughes won the Smokefree Best Vocals Award and the Contempo Musicianship Award providing a $3,000 scholarship for tertiary music course studies.

North Shore band 'The Rabble' were national runners-up while '5 Element' from Christchurch placed third, each also winning the opportunity to have two songs professionally recorded and $5,000 and $3,000 worth of music equipment respectively. 'Fifth Element' from Hornby, Shirley Boys, and Aranui High Schools also won the Coke Anthem Award, which sees an additional song of theirs produced and played on national radio.

Co-founder of the 14-year-old CokeSmokefreeRockquest and Judge Pete Rainey says the crème-de-la-crème of the record-sized 623 bands entered in this year's event on show tonight are a group of particularly outstanding and talented musicians.

"Judging is more difficult every year because the standard has improved so much.

"There's no doubt we'll be seeing these bands reach national if not global success in the future if former CokeSmokefreeRockquesters 'The Datsuns,' 'Nesian Mystik,' 'The Feelers,' and Bic Runga and Anika Moa, to name a few, are anything to go by," he says.

Rainey was joined by Camille Guzwell and Dave Ridler from New Zealand on Air, Assistant Programme Director for The Edge Willy McAllister, and top New Zealand music producer Malcolm Wellsford on the judging panel. Coca-Cola Region Corporate Affairs Manager Alison Sykora says the application and dedication from all bands in the CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2003 has been outstanding.

"Its a real buzz to be able to provide a genuine platform to launch young musicians careers and to support them in their ambitions. "Coke would like to congratulate 'Falter' and all entries in CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2003," she says.

Other awards announced at the event include the Coke Stage Image Award won by 'Grannypash' from Hamilton, while Western Springs College soloist Courtney Meredith won the National Lyric Writers' Award.

Following in the footsteps of former CokeSmokefreeRockquest songstresses Bic Runga and Anika Moa, cellist singer-songwriter Hollie Fullbrook from Avondale College's 'The Fauves' was given the honour of the Smokefree Award for Women's Musicianship this year.

The award-winners performed alongside renowned Kiwi bands 'Elemeno P,' last year's CokeSmokefreeRockquest winners 'The Have,' and 'Wash' in front of a sold-out crowd of 1080.

Those who didn't get to the event will be able to catch these bands and others on television when the CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2003 series airs on TV2 later this year.

The CokeSmokefreeRockquest was awarded a special merit award at the National Business Review's Awards for Sponsorship of the Arts held earlier in the month.

ENDS

Issued for and on behalf of Coca-Cola Oceania Ltd by Publicis Drum

"Coca-Cola" and "Coke" are registered trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company.

About Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is a major supporter of New Zealand music and a sponsor of some of the country's leading music events, including CokeSmokefreeRockquest, Coke Gig Southside (South Auckland's biggest hip-hop event) and Launchpad (a platform for new musicians in association with Space and Rip It Up). Over the airwaves, Coke is behind Mai FM's Coke Rhythm Nation, choosing and recording a new artist each month, and local radio advertisements featuring New Zealand musicians are recorded regularly. Coke is a major backer of NZ music TV shows Space, RTR and Juice TV and local hip-hop favourites, Nesian Mystik were chosen for the soundtrack of the latest Coke brand advertising campaign. www.coke.co.nz

About Smokefree

Smokefree exists to encourage New Zealanders to adopt and maintain healthy attitudes and lifestyles and is a major supporter of key annual youth events at a national level. Events including CokeSmokefreeRockquest, Smokefree Pacifica Beats, STRIKE to schools and the Young Designer Awards are backed by Smokefree, ensuring that the positive Smokefree message reaches young people in their environment. Creating Smokefree social settings aims to demonstrate to young people that smoking is not a necessary element of having a good time with friends. www.lungfish.co.nz

About CokeSmokefreeRockquest

CokeSmokefreeRockquest is the biggest and most influential nation-wide youth event held in New Zealand, attracting audience numbers in excess of 100,000 every year. Founded by music teachers Glenn Common and Pete Rainey in 1988 (who now run Rockquest Promotions full time out of Nelson), it has become a New Zealand institution. Bands including 'The Datsuns,' 'Anika Moa,' 'Steriogram,' 'Tadpole,' 'the feelers,' 'The Blackseeds,' 'Nesian Mystic,' 'Bic Runga,' 'Fur Patrol,' 'Betchadupa,' 'King Kapisi,' 'Zed' and 'The Have' have all participated in the CokeSmokefreeRockquest during its 16-year history. CokeSmokefreeRockquest aims to motivate young musicians to prove their ability and realise the heights they can reach in their music careers, and encourage their peers to support 100% original New Zealand music. For more information email help@cokesmokefreerockquest.com or see http://www.cokesmokefreerockquest.com

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