2013 Smokefreerockquest - Northland Final Results

2013 Smokefreerockquest - 25 Years of Kiwi Music Success
Northland Final Results

Five piece band Back2Back and solo act Summer Ash were named this year’s Northland winners of Smokefreerockquest at Forum North in front of a sell-out crowd of 400 on Friday night.

It was the Kerikeri High School band’s first year in the competition after having a change to their lineup. Back2Back guitarist and vocalist, Rachel Hall says practise paid off, allowing them to gel together on the night: “We were really feeling the music… it was our night.”

The rest of the band is made up of cousins Rawiri Webb (lead electric guitar) and Manawa-Kaha Webb (drums), Ryan Evans (bass), and Tamati Umbers (lead vocals)

Back2Back also won the Skinny Mobile People’s Choice Award, and Rachel won the Smokefree Award for Women’s Musicianship.

Summer Ash from Kerikeri High School loves performing and says she tries to bring her own original feel to the stage

“It just feels so natural and I enjoy every minute of it,” she says. “I mean, I still get nervous but that's always a good sign… it means that what you are about to do is important to you in some way.”

Second place in the band category went to Co-lab from Whangarei Boys’ High School, made up of Josh Crawford (lead vocals), Austyn Mills (acoustic guitar and vocals), and Toban Taylor (electric guitar and vocals).

Miss Minority (Mia-mae Stevens-Taitimu) from Rodney College placed second in the solo/duo category, and also won the Lowdown Best Song.

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 Northland 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 Friday night were:

Band 1st Place: Back2Back from Kerikeri High Schoo

Solo/Duo 1st Place: Summer Ash from Kerikeri High School

Band 2nd Place: Co-lab from Whangarei Boys’ High Schoo

Solo/Duo 2nd Place: Miss Minority (Mia-mae Stevens-Taitimu) from Rodney College

Third placed band, winning musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops and their suppliers: Alien Weaponry from Bream Bay College, Otamatea High School and Waipu School

APRA Lyric Award: “Never As It Seems” by Lewis and Henry de Jong of Alien Weaponry, from Bream Bay College and Waipu School

Lowdown Best Song: Miss Minority (Mia-mae Stevens-Taitimu) from Rodney College

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:

Henry de Jong, drummer of Alien Weaponry from Bream Bay College

Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Rachel Hall, backing vocalist and guitarist of Back2Back from Kerikeri High School

Skinny Mobile People’s Choice voted by text: Back2Back from Kerikeri 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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