Smokefreerockquest influence shows in APRA Silver Scroll

Smokefreerockquest influence shows in APRA Silver Scroll Awards

A look at the Top 20 New Zealand Songs Of The Year shows the influence of the country’s only nationwide, original, youth music event, Smokefreerockquest.

APRA (the Australasian Performing Right Association) has just announced the Top 20 songs in line for Silver Scroll songwriting award, and Smokefreerockquest founder and director Pete Rainey says it’s gratifying to see the prominence of bands and soloists he first saw on stage at rockquest events.

The list includes national winners such as Jesse Sheehan, Die! Die! Die! (Andrew Wilson, Michael Prain, Lachlan Anderson), Anna Coddington, Julia Deans and Annah Mac; as well as bands that succeeded at the regional level such as Avalanche City (Dave Baxter) and ClapClapRiot (Stephen Heard, Dave Rowlands, Strachan Rivers, Tristan Colenso) among others.

“We are thrilled to see this hard evidence of the role that Smokefreerockquest has in providing a platform for young songwriters,” Rainey said. “By providing them with a framework where they are encouraged and recognised Smokefreerockquest nurtures that initial talent and sets it forth into the flourishing music scene we now have in New Zealand.”

Rainey encouraged other Smokefreerockquesters past and present to go online and vote for the top 20 in the Silver Scroll Awards, at www.apra-amcos.co.nz – voting is open for APRA Members via the website until Sunday 31st July.

Meantime Smokefreerockquest 2011 has just one regional event to go, in Christchurch on August 6 and 7. Since mid May over 800 bands have competed in 27 regional finals. The top six bands will play off 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 single CDs produced by Forge Media, and radio and TV play of a 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.

To find out more about Smokefreerockquest 2011, visit the official website sfrq.co.nz.

ENDS

Smokefreerockquest – 23 years of musical success
Smokefreerockquest is New Zealand’s only nationwide, live, original music, youth event. Now well into its third decade, the series of 28 events reaches audience numbers in excess of 24,000 every year. This year the Smokefreerockquest Circus, an expo with hands-on displays, workshops and careers info will be held as part of Smokefreerockquest in main centres.
Founded in 1988 by music teachers Glenn Common and Pete Rainey, who now run Rockquest Promotions full time out of Nelson, Smokefreerockquest has become a New Zealand institution. Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest over its 23-year history include Opshop, Ladyhawke, Kids Of 88, Midnight Youth, Brooke Fraser, Cut Off Your Hands, Evermore, Minuit, Die!Die!Die!, Pistol Youth, Bang!Bang!Eche!, Ivy Lies, Cairo Knife Fight, Luke Thompson, the Datsuns, Anika Moa, Anna Coddington, Kora, Steriogram, Aaradhna, Spacifix, Phoenix Foundation, The Feelers, The Black Seeds, Nesian Mystik, Bic Runga, The Checks, Julia Deans, Pine, King Kapisi, Kingston, The Naked and Famous, Autozamm and Elemeno P.
Smokefreerockquest aims to motivate young musicians to prove their ability and realise the heights they can reach in their music careers, and to encourage their peers to support 100% original New Zealand music. For more information visit www.sfrq.co.nz

Smokefree’s Smoking Not Our Future Campaign
The latest research from HSC shows that 94 percent of all young people have seen the Smoking Not Our Future initiative and that Smokefreerockquest plays a large part in getting its key messages and its celebrities in front of young people. Where possible, guest bands, judges, mentors and emcees at the events are part of Smoking Not Our Future. Smokefree has been the naming rights sponsor of Smokefreerockquest for 22 of its 24 years and this longstanding partnership between the two agencies has been mutually beneficial. Smokefree is able to deliver its messages to 25 percent of all secondary school students every year, while fostering connections to school and positive role models, as well as enhancing their musical abilities and aspirations.

Hamilton – Home of the national final
Hamilton is the now the home of the Smokefreerockquest national final. And it is easy to see why when you consider that the city is charged with one of the country’s most youthful demographics (15-24 yrs) and that it is the location of New Zealand’s newest, 5000-seat purpose-built music arena, Claudelands. Each year Hamilton adds to its already impressive portfolio of major events, including the now international Parachute Music Festival, the 2010 World Rowing Champs, the Fuel Festivals of NZ Music and Theatre, 2011 Rugby World Cup matches and V8 Supercars Australia. Building on that platform and bringing events of this calibre to Hamilton is what the city is all about. Smokefreerockquest has spent the past 23 years making kiwi music legends; it is a national institution that has gone from strength to strength. With a Vector-style arena set to open and over two million people on the city’s doorstep, Hamilton is the perfect venue to grow Smokefreerockquest even more. www.hamilton.co.nz for more info.

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