Last Call For Cokesmokefreerockquest 2004 Entries

MEDIA RELEASE
April 27, 2004

Last Call For Cokesmokefreerockquest 2004 Entries

Next week will mark the last chance for school-goers throughout New Zealand to make musical history and get their entries in to take part in the 15th annual CokeSmokefreeRockquest. Entry forms are available from www.cokefridge.co.nz.

North Island bands have until May11 to claim a spot in the regional heats underway form early May throughout the country. South Island entries close today.

Co-director of Rockquest Promotions and Judge Pete Rainey says the emphasis of the six month long event, comprising 40 regional events and culminating in a national final in October, is on encouraging original music.

“Our aim is to inspire raw Kiwi talent by getting as many students as possible writing and performing their own music, and by providing goals upon which they can focus,” he says.

Seeing music rooms and suburban garages transformed into makeshift concert venues throughout the country and parents, teachers, and friends become discerning contemporary music critics, the CokeSmokefreeRockquest is New Zealand’s biggest youth music event.

Rosie O’Connell, the drummer from Christchurch band ‘Starlett’ who made the semi-finals in 2003 and are aiming even higher this year, says the event has been a highlight of her school years.

“The CokeSmokefreeRockquest lets you learn what it’s like to be in the music industry and perform to a live crowd, but in a supportive environment where everyone encourages each other,” she says.

Coca-Cola Oceania NZ Country Manager Gareth Edgecombe says providing young New Zealanders with a genuine platform upon which they can establish and enhance their musical careers is a key focus.

“Coke is committed to enabling youth at grass roots level to create the future sound of New Zealand – CokeSmokefreeRockquest and www.cokefridge.co.nz are important aspects of that promise and we are confident about what these initiatives can achieve for New Zealand musicians and New Zealand music fans,” he says.

It is expected CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2004 will attract an estimated 600 bands from schools throughout the country, 12 of which will be selected as national semi-finalists.

CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2004 entry forms are available from Coke’s unique new online music portal www.cokefridge.co.nz – where people around the globe can access fresh Kiwi music and download band profiles and MP3 files.
MORE…

The exciting new online portal allows CokeSmokefreeRockquest band members to profile their bios online, get in tune with stellar Kiwi musicians, see updates to the Coke countdown chart, download screensavers, play ‘stack the Fridge,’ read reviews, and much more.

The CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2004 Event Schedule:

NORTH ISLAND
Region Heat Date Final Date Regional Final Venue
Auckland Sat 19 Jun Sat 7 Aug AGGS
Gisborne Mon 14 Jun Sat 24 Jul War Memorial Theatre
Hutt Valley Sat 22 May Fri 11 Jun Lower Hutt Town Hall
Manakau Mon 14 Jun Fri 13 Aug Venue TBC
Manawatu Sun 30 May Sat 19 Jun Regent on Broadway
Napier Sun 13 Jun Fri 23 Jul Pettigrew Green Arena
Northland Sun 13 Jun Sat 14 Aug Forum North
North Shore Sun 20 Jun Fri 06 Aug Bruce Mason Centre
Rotorua Mon 21 Jun Fri 30 Jul Rotorua Convention Centre
Taranaki Sat 15 May Fri 28 May TSB Showplace
Tauranga Mon 21 Jun Sat 31 Jul Mount Sport Stadium
Waikato Sun 23 May Fri 18 Jun Founders Theatre
Wanganui Sun 16 May Sat 29 May Wanganui City College Hall
Wellington Sat 22 May Sat 12 Jun Vic. Student Union

SOUTH ISLAND
Christchurch Sat/Sun 1/2 May Fri 14 May Christchurch Town Hall
Nelson Fri 07 May Sat 22 May Trafalgar Centre
Otago Sat 08 May Sat 26 Jun Studass Hall
Southland Sun 09 May Fri 25 Jun The Embassy
Timaru No Heat Fri 21 May Theatre Royal
West Coast No Heat Fri 02 Jul Regent Theatre

NATIONAL FINALS
Smokefree Pasifica Beats - Sat 02 Oct Wellington Town Hall
CokeSmokefreeRockquest - Fri 08 Oct Auckland

-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 Coke Fridge

Fresh music comes from the Fridge (www.cokefridge.co.nz). Coke has launched the most wicked music site NZ has ever seen including artist profiles, photo’s MP3 downloads, inside information, reviews and news, charts, music giveaways and cool games and competitions.

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. 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 info@cokesmokefreerockquest.com

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