Smokefreerockquest – Nelson heats results

Smokefreerockquest – Nelson heats results.

Live music, original songs, first time nerves – it was all part of the mix at the Theatre Royal on Friday in front of a capacity crowd at this year’s Smokefreerockquest Nelson heats.

Around 650 bands and solo/duos will go through regional heats and finals in 24 towns from Invercargill to Kerikeri between now and 4 July. Founder and Director Glenn Common says while SFRQ is a competition, the environment at the heats is very supportive.

“The entrants encourage each other and provide a response to whoever is on stage,” he said. “It’s always great to see the family support at the heats, but we sold out and had to turn some people away. So the message is get in early for tickets to the Nelson final next Friday night.”

There is now a separate category for solo/duos, and the top two solo/duos for Nelson, selected at the heats were:
Gabriella Atkinson Garin College
Zi Shaw Nelson College For Girls
They will play off at the regional finals next weekend for first and second place and will both go into the judging pool for the national final.

The top 10 bands to play off next Friday are:
Aeon Venture Garin College
Fire Without Permit Nelson College, Waimea College
OH BLOK Garin College Nelson College
Paper Scissors Motueka High School
Rictorscale Motueka High School
Slim Conviction Garin College Nayland College Waimea College
Toxic Vain Waimea College
Velocity Nelson College
Celestia Garin College
Westbrook Nelson College Garin College Nayland College

The Nelson final is at the Theatre Royal next Friday, 23 May, start time 7pm, tickets $10 for school students and $20 for adults from Ticket Direct or at the venue.

The regional events run until 4 July, then the top regional bands and solo/duos submit video footage for selection as one of six bands and three solo/duos to play off at the national final at Auckland’s Q Theatre on 27 September.

In July, when all regional heats and finals are complete, the top regional bands and solo/duos submit video footage for selection as national finalists to play off at Q Theatre in Auckland on September 27.

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 (Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand) Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award and the People’s Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the SFRQ National final.

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

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