2013 Smokefreerockquest - Waikato Final Results

2013 Smokefreerockquest - 25 Years of Kiwi Music Success

Waikato Final Results

All Of A Kind from Putaruru College and Harry Parsons from Cambridge College took the honours at the Clarence Street Theatre in front of a crowd of 400, as this year’s Waikato winners of Smokefreerockquest. 

Waikato put on their best show with a top lineup of musicians, according to event organiser Matt Ealand: “It was extremely tight, all the acts brought their A-game… it was probably the best regional final I’ve been to.”

All Of A Kind front man, Conor White (vocals and acoustic guitar) puts their success down to band cohesiveness and a strong performance on the night.“We’re tighter than we’ve ever been [together] and even had some choreography… we were confident in ourselves that we could take it out,” he says.The five piece alt-pop band are in their third year of competing in Smokefreerockquest, after placing third in last year’s regional final.The other members of All Of A Kind are James Te Whare (lead electric guitar and keyboard), Antonio Clair (bass and percussion), Tarewa Walker (drums), and John Keith (keyboard and backing vocals).

Solo/duo section winner, Harry Parsons from Cambridge High School has been surrounded by music all his life as his father plays music professionally. His own musical style however, has been through some dramatic changes.“I used to love punk rock, and I wrote metal, post, hardcore stuff in my band, 'My Secret Alibi',” he says, “and now I'm solo, my songs are folk, alternative and I seem to be happy with this style at the moment.”As well as winning the solo/duo category, Harry also took home The Lowdown Best Song Award judged on songs performed by all acts from both categories.

Second place in the band category went to SundayBest from St Peter’s School (Cambridge), who also won the Skinny Mobile People’s Choice Award voted by text. SundayBest is made up of Charlie Verberne (lead vocals and electric guitar), Chris Milson (drums), and Jesse Austin (bass). SundayBest made the top eight bands last year and played off in the national final.

PDJ (Jesse Birchfield and Prerna Chaudhary) from Morrinsville College placed second in the solo/duo category.

These four acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the opportunity to gain selection  for the national final in Auckland on Saturday September 28.

Founder and director Glenn Common said from here on the Waikato finalists would have to work hard and draw on their creativity to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.

“They now send in videos of their original music that will be judged in August as we lead up to the national final,” he said. “This process demands creativity and musical ability, as well as learning to work together as a group and developing the organisation skills they’ll need if they're going to make it on the Kiwi music scene.”

The full list of awards made on Saturday night were:

Band 1st Place: All Of A Kind from Putaruru CollegeSolo/Duo 1st Place: Harry Parsons from Cambridge High School

Band 2nd Place: SundayBest from St Peter’s School (Cambridge)Solo/Duo 2nd Place: PDJ (Prerna Chaudhary and Jesse Birchfield) from Morrinsville College

Band 3rd Place: The Shift from Hamilton Boys’ High School

Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Kaleesha Messent (drums, backing vocals) of Situation Vacant from Kimihia School

APRA Lyric Award: Reuben O’Sullivan of 5 Rupee, from Morrinsville College

Lowdown Best Song: Harry Parsons from Cambridge High School

The Mainz Musicianship Award: Cullen Taylor (lead electric guitarist) of The Shift, from Hamilton Boys’ High School

Skinny Mobile People’s Choice: SundayBest from St Peter’s School (Cambridge)

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.

Finalist judging 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.

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

ENDS

© Scoop Media