2013 Smokefreerockquest - Wellington and Hutt Final Results

2013 Smokefreerockquest - 25 Years of Kiwi Music Success - Wellington and Hutt Final Results

It was a big night for youth music in Wellington as the region’s top bands took the stage at the Opera House in this year’s Wellington and Hutt finals of Smokefreerockquest.

First placed band was indi-punk-rock five piece Harbour Lane from Hutt Valley High School, while Legalo Tumama from Wellington East Girls' College won the solo/duo section.

Harbour Lane (named for Wellington Harbour) is made up of Josef Shadwell (lead guitar), Jeremy Richardson (drums), Tyrone Caveney (bass and synths), Max Wollerman (vocals) and Andrew Broadley (rhythm guitar).

The band has been together just three months, but the boys have all played together in other bands at various times over the last five years. All are in year 13, except Max Wollerman who is year 12. Josef Shadwell says there were three factors that gave them the leading edge: We had a good stage presence with a lot of energy and really connected with the audience, we had catchy songs about things like relationships and politics and we had good musicianship.

Legalo Tumama from Wellington East Girls' College started playing guitar five years ago and says she’s become ‘slightly obsessed’ with it. Here musical style is acoustic and ‘hopefully uplifting in some way’ and she is keen to make a career out of music: “I absolutely love music and can't really imagine myself doing anything else, as cheesy and cliche as that sounds.”

Second place in the band category went to Until Autumn from Tawa College and Aotea College, made up of James Gill (vocals), Peter Sim (lead guitar), Andrew Chesney (drums), Dan Cuttriss (rhythm guitar) and Nathan Estment (bass).

Second placed solo/duo was Josh Dominikovich from St Bernard's College.

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 Wellington and Hutt 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 was:

Band 1st place: Harbour Land, Hutt Valley High School

Solo/Duo 1st place: Legalo Tumama, Wellington East Girls College

Band 2nd place: Until Autumn, Aotea College and Tawa College

Solo/Duo 2nd place: Josh Dominikovich, St Bernard's College

Third placed band: Feggae Runk, Wellington High School & Community Ed Centre

APRA Lyric Award: Josh Dominikovich

Lowdown Best Song: Point Of View, Hutt Valley High School

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: Vikas Shenoy, the keyboard player from 5th Element, Hutt International Boys' School

Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Finlay Robertson, Aotea College, the vocalist from Green Room

Skinny Mobile People’s Choice voted by text:  Spectrum, Aotea College and Queen Margaret College.

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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