Smokefreerockquest Bay of Plenty heats coming up

Smokefreerockquest 25 years of music success – Bay of Plenty heats coming up on 19 May

Other Side Up and Rhythms of the Restless could be the hottest new sounds on the Kiwi music scene if they hit the big time via the time-honoured pathway of Smokefreerockquest.

Now in its 25th year, New Zealand’s only nationwide, live, all original youth music competition is about to kick off in Bay of Plenty, with the heats scheduled for 1pm, Sunday 19 May, at Baycourt. Tickets $10, available at the venue.

Around 700 entries are expected to go through regional heats and finals in 23 towns from Invercargill to Whangarei. Founder and Director Glenn Common says while much has changed in the 25 years that SFRQ has been running, there are some things that remain the same:

“The enthusiasm of young people for their music, and the way they respond to having a platform to perform to their peers is one of the constants,” he says. “These days they can put their video clips up on Youtube, but that hasn't taken the thrill out of getting up on stage in front of a real live crowd.”

The Bay of Plenty bands performing at the Baycourt on Sunday are:

The Incline Mt Maunganui Coll,Tauranga Boys’ Coll, Tauranga Girls’ Coll
Earth Won Whakatane High School
Rhythms Of The Restless Mt Maunganui College
Original Sin Tauranga Boys' College
Informal Tea Party Waihi College
Other Side Up Mt Maunganui Coll Papamoa Coll Bethlehem Coll
OI Otumoetai Intermediate
Evolution of execution Mt Maunganui College
Chase Replica Tauranga Boys' Coll Otumoetai Coll Tauranga Girls’ Coll
Leviathans Vessel Mt Maunganui Coll Fairfield Coll
Sons of Martin Tauranga Boys' College
Flint Opotiki College
Leon Foulkes Tauranga Boys' College
SamIAM Mt Maunganui College
Amelia McNabb Otumoetai College
Skinny Love Aquinas College
RPM Mt Maunganui College
Zuhana Katikati College

This year there are separate categories for solo/duo acts and bands. The top two solo/duos will be announced at the heats. They will play off at the regional finals and will both go into the judging pool for the national final.

“We’ll have regional winners in the solo/duo section and the band section, and the same at the national final,” Glenn explains. “There will be more winners and more prizes and it means neither category will feel overlooked.”

Glenn says this change has been made in response to comments from entrants and teachers, and brings SFRQ more in line with NCEA assessments where bands are assessed separately.

The regional events run every weekend until 13 July, then the top regional bands and solo/duos submit videos for selection as national finalists. Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and the solo/duo winners, that include musical gear to a total value of $13,000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, inclusion on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support, and video play on youth music channel FOUR. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award and the Skinny People’s Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the SFRQ National final.

More info at sfrq.co.nz or facebook.com/thesfrq

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