Smokefreerockquest 2013 – Rotorua

Smokefreerockquest 2013 – Rotorua

The Great Lake Centre in Taupo will be pumping on Saturday 22 June as the top youth bands in the Rotorua area play off in the regional final of Smokefreerockquest 2013.

The ten bands and two solo/duos to play off on 22 June were selected at heats held in May.

Smokefreerockquest founder and director Glenn Common says he’s expecting the usual wide age range in the audience on Saturday night.

“As well as peer support, we see grandparents and parents coming along to SFRQ to see their kids excel on stage, under lights in a real theatre – it’s a professional set up and they respond to this opportunity,” he said. “Over the 25 years we’ve been running SFRQ it’s been a positive influence on thousands of young people’s lives and has created a way for kids to communicate with each other and with their parents and teachers.”

Those competing to join the ranks of Kiwi music success at the Rotorua regional final are:

Loft Western Heights High School
Burning Skies Taupo-nui-a-Tia College
Zenith Rotorua Lakes High School
Toi Toi Tree John Paul College Rotorua Lakes HS
Kingdom Western Heights High School
ABN Taupo-nui-a-Tia College Rotorua Boys’ HS
Fair GRound Rotorua Lakes High School
Aftershock Western Heights High School , John Paul Coll
Puoro Kaupare Tarawera High School
Out Of Tunar Western Heights High School

They’re joined by the top two solo/duo acts for Rotorua judged at the heats last month:
Title (Ngamoe Potaka-Dewes & Sonya Katipa) Rotorua Girls' High School
Ellie Redmond Taupo-nui-a-Tia College

The Rotorua final is at the Great Lake Centre Theatre in Taupo on Saturday 22 June, start time 7pm, tickets $20 from Ticketek or at the door.

At the Rotorua final, first and second place for the solo/duos will be announced, along with awards for the top three bands, the MAINZ Musicianship Award, Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship, Lowdown Best Song, the APRA Lyrics Award and the Skinny Mobile People’s Choice voted by text.

The top two bands and two solo/duos will send in their videos for selection as one of the six bands and two solo/duos to play off at the national final in Auckland on September 28.

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 Mobile People’s Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the SFRQ National final.

National Finalist selection process: Two bands from each of 23 regional finals send in their videos for selection as one of the six bands to play off in the national final. Judging is done from a pool of 50-60 bands that also includes Rockshop Second Chance, an opening for established bands (playing regular gigs) who don’t feel they played their best on the night. The top two solo/duos from each region go through the same process to be selected as one of the two solo/duos to play off for national honours.

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

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