2013 Smokefreerockquest – 25th National Final Auckland

2013 Smokefreerockquest – 25th National Final Auckland 28 September

Success in the Kiwi-music industry is the driver for this year’s eight Smokefreerockquest finalists – due to play off in the event’s 25th national final, set for 28 September at Auckland’s Raye Freedman Centre.

There were 654 entries in New Zealand’s only nationwide, orginal youth music event, with winners from 23 regional finals going forward for national final selection. The regional finalists sent in DVDs of their original music and the top six bands and two solo/duos were selected in August by judges from the music industry.

Smokefreerockquest founders and directors Glenn Common and Pete Rainey said it was hard to believe they had been running Smokefreerockquest for a quarter of a century.

“We’ve seen huge change in young people’s lives and in the technology available to them to get their music out to the world,” Glenn said, “through all of that, Smokefreerockquest has consistently given them a platform to perform their own music, live, to a hometown audience wherever they live in New Zealand.”

September is a big month for Common and Rainey, who will also be making a trip to Government House to pick up their MNZM awards for services to New Zealand music, announced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The top six bands to play off at the national final are:
The Moots, Auckland Central - a funk-rock three piece from St Kentigern College, Western Springs College, and Westlake Boys’ High School; members are Alexandre de Reuck (drums), Guy Beca (bass) and Gabriel Everett (lead vocals and electric guitar).

SundayBest, Waikato - the second time in the national final for this quirky indie band from Peter's School Cambridge, made up of Charlie Verberne (lead vocals and electric guitar), Chris Milson (drums), and Jesse Austin (bass).

All of a Kind, Waikato - third year competing in SFRQ for this five piece alt-pop band from Putaruru College, whose members are Conor White (vocals and acoustic guitar) James Te Whare (lead electric guitar and keyboard), Antonio Clair (bass and percussion), Tarewa Walker (drums), and John Keith (keyboard and backing vocals).

A Bit Nigel, Rotorua - it’s the third time in the national final for this indie-rock outfit from Taupo-nui-a-Tia College and Rotorua Boys' High School. They are Hamish Nixon (lead vocals, guitar and synth), Sam Marshall (bass, synth), and Manawa Veitayaki (drums and backing vocals).

Aftershock, Rotorua - this four piece metal band from Western Heights High School and John Paul College have been playing together for six years and made the top 20 last year. The members are Lukas Wharekura (lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist), Chris Everest (lead guitar), Shaun Loper (bass) and Oliver Prendergast (drums).

AashaWillandCullen, Christchurch – this alt-folk band from Shirley Boys' High School is made up of Aasha Mallard (banjo), Will McGillivray (acoustic guitar and kick drum) and Cullen Kiesanowski (double bass). The year 11 students have all played music since year 8, but formed a band only a year ago.

The solo/duo finalists are:
Harry Parsons, Waikato is from Cambridge High School and since he went solo has moved from punk and metal to songs that are folk or alternative. Harry has been surrounded by music all his life as his father is a professional musician.

Khona Va'aga-Gray, Manukau this McAuley High School soul/R&B singer puts her success down to her mother sitting her down in front of the Disney channel to sing along, which sparked her love for music and performing.

The national final of Smokefreerockquest is at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre, at 7pm on Saturday 28 September. Tickets $20 from iTICKET. Guest acts are surf-punk-hillbilly Auckland five piece the Drab Doo-Riffs and pop singer-songwriter Massad. The event will be opened by the winner of the Skinny Mobile People’s Choice, with voting from the regional winners of this award taking place on Facebook now.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has a national final prize pool for bands and solo/duo winners that includes musical gear to a total value of $22,000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers. National winners also receive a recoding and music video package from NZ on Air, inclusion on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support, and video play on youth music channel FOUR. At the national final awards will be presented for the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, the Smokefreerockquest Video Competition, National Skinny Mobile Peoples Choice Award, and the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award.

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

Finalists - Bands:
The Moots: Guy Beca
SundayBest: Jesse Austin
All of a Kind: Conor White
Aftershock: Lukas Wharekura
A Bit Nigel: Hamish Nixon
AshaWillandCullen: Will McGillivray

Finalists - Soloists:
Khona Va’aga-Gray
Harry Parsons

Smokefreerockquest – 25 years of music success
Smokefreerockquest is New Zealand’s only nationwide, live, original music, youth event. Celebrating it’s silver anniversary this year, the series of over 40 events reaches audiences from Whangarei to Invercargill. Founded in 1989 by music teachers Glenn Common and Pete Rainey, who now run Rockquest Promotions full time out of Nelson, Smokefreerockquest has become a New Zealand institution.

Smokefreerockquest 2013, powered by Rockshop aims to motivate young musicians to prove their ability and realise the heights they can reach in their music careers, and to encourage their peers to support 100 percent original New Zealand music. For more information visit www.sfrq.co.nz

Hall of Fame
Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest over its 25-year history include Kimbra, Midnight Youth, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Minuit, Kids of 88, Die!Die!Die!, Pistol Youth, Annah Mac, Bang!Bang!Eche!, Ivy Lies, Cairo Knife Fight, Cut Off Your Hands, Luke Thompson, the Datsuns, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Kora, Anna Coddington, The Electric Confectionaires, Steriogram, Aaradhna, Spacifix, Phoenix Foundation, The Feelers, The Black Seeds, Nesian Mystik, Bic Runga, The Checks, Julia Deans, Pine, King Kapisi, Kingston, The Naked and Famous, Autozamm and Elemeno P.

Smokefree’s - Smoking Not Our Future Campaign
Smokefreerockquest plays a large part in helping Smoking Not Our Future get its key messages in front of a large audience of young people. Smokefree has been the naming rights sponsor of Smokefreerockquest for 23 of its 25 years and this longstanding partnership has been mutually beneficial. This year young people will be asked to join The Movement, which is a way for them to get more involved in helping New Zealand become smokefree by 2025. SFRQ events help students make protective connections to their schools, other students and communities and they also develop new skills and aspirations for their futures. For more information visit Facebook.com/notourfuture.

ENDS

© Scoop Media