2013 Smokefreerockquest - Taranaki Region Final Results

2013 Smokefreerockquest - 25 Years of Kiwi Music Success
Taranaki Region Final Results

A catchy name and an unusual music style paid off for a Waitara High School band at the TSB Arena as this year’s Taranaki winners of Smokefreerockquest.

The metal-rap four piece, Llamas At My Funeral gave an energetic performance, which guitarist Toban Sutton believes gave them the edge with the judges.

“We dressed in black and grey and wore Dynamite Bay hats, and just had heaps of energy on stage,” he says.

Toban says the band’s song writing is a collaborative effort with every member adding something during the process. The other members of Llamas At My Funeral are Tainui Porter (drums), Sean Pilkington (bass) and Hamish Hurley (vocals).

Gloriana Wilson, from Spotswood College, performing as ‘The Truth’, won the solo/duo category on Saturday night. Gloriana says she’d like to be an R&B pop artist and also tries to incorporate soul and blues in her style. She says her future will definitely involve music and credits her late uncle for inspiring her: “He used to sing me bed time songs, not stories.”

Second place in the band category went to Plainmotion from New Plymouth Boys' High School, made up of Joel Robertson (guitar), Connor Rust, (drums), Jake McComb (bass) Martin Leith (guitar) and Ethan Taylor (vocals). Plainmotion also won the Skinny Mobile People’s Choice voted by text.

Purple Haze, from Sacred Heart Girls' College, Estella Winnie McGee (guitar) and Emily Dawkins (guitar) 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 28 September.
Founder and director Glenn Common said from here on the Taranaki 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 was:

Band 1st Place: Llamas At My Funeral, Waitara High School

Solo/Duo 1st Place: The Truth, Spotswood College

Band 2nd Place: Plainmotion, New Plymouth Boys' High School

Solo/Duo 2nd Place: Purple Haze, Sacred Heart Girls' College

Third placed band, winning musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops and their suppliers: Reach For Reason, New Plymouth Boys' High School

APRA Lyric Award: 30 Days Hath September, Francis Douglas Memorial College
Lowdown Best Song: Choking Hazard, Inglewood HS, NPBHS

The Mainz Musicianship Award with the opportunity to be selected for the $4500 Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship, announced at the national final: Tyson Price, guitarist from Await the Solstice, Hawera High School

Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Cascade Price, drummer/guitarist from Blossom, Sacred Heart Girls' College

Skinny Mobile People’s Choice voted by text:  Plainmotion, New Plymouth Boys' High School

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

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