Smokefreerockquest 2014 - Taranaki final results

Smokefreerockquest 2014 - Taranaki final results

It was second time lucky for New Plymouth Boys' High School four piece Plainmotion who won this year’s Taranaki Smokefreerockquest regional final at the TSB Showcase on Friday night.

Connor Rust who plays drums and synthesizer says the band, which came second last year had put in a lot of practice.

“We just brought out a whole new dynamic to our music this year – we were a lot tighter and more confident,” he said. “We play pop-rock with a bit of rap and our songs are about things that influence us, our experiences and issues.”

The other members of Plainmotion are Joel Robertson, lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Martin Leith, lead guitar, and Jake McComb, bass and vocals.

Second placed band was Llamas at my Funeral from Waitara College, made up of Tainuji Porter, drums; Toban Sutton, lead guitar and vocals; Hamish Hurley, lead vocals and Sean Pilkinton, bass and vocals.

The solo duo section was won by The Truth, aka 17 year old singer guitarist Gloriana Wilson from Spotswood College, who says she stood out with her powerful voice, her orange dress and her songs about things that really matter, like the stereotyping of young people.

Luke Roberts from Hawera High School placed second solo/duo.

These four acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the opportunity to gain selection for the national final at Auckland’s Q Theatre on Saturday 27 September.

Founder and director Glenn Common said from here on the Taranaki finalists would have to work hard to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.

“They now send in video footage of their original music that will be judged in August as we lead up to the national final,” he said. “It’s a process that 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: Plainmotion, New Plymouth Boys High School
Band 2nd Place: Llamas at my Funeral, Waitara College
Solo/Duo 1st Place: Gloriana Wilson, Spotswood College,
Solo/Duo 2nd Place: Luke Roberts, Hawera High School
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: The Descendents, Waitara High School
Lowdown Best Song: Thamasis, Spotswood 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: Kaleb McEldowney, the lead guitarist from Two Front Goats, Hawera High School

Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Nikki Brand, singer guitarist from The Descendants, Waitara High School
People’s Choice voted by text: Invictus, Scared Heart Girls’ College
Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and the solo/duos 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 nation-wide People’s Choice voted by text, with the opportunity to open the SFRQ national final.

Finalist judging process: Two bands from each of the 24 regional finals send in their video footage 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, and three of them will go ahead to the national final.
More info at sfrq.co.nz or facebook.com/thesfrq

Ends

Smokefreerockquest – 26 years of musical success
Smokefreerockquest is New Zealand’s only nationwide, live, original music, youth event. The series of over 40 events reaches audiences from the Far North 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 2014, powered by Rockshop, aims to motivate young musicians to prove their ability and realise their goals 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 26-year history include Kimbra, Broods, Midnight Youth, Aaradhna, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Minuit, Kids of 88, Die!Die!Die!, NO, Annah Mac, Bang!Bang!Eche!, Streets of Laredo, Joel Little, Cairo Knife Fight, Cut Off Your Hands, the Datsuns, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Kora, Anna Coddington, The Electric Confectionaires, Steriogram, Spacifix, Phoenix Foundation, The Feelers, The Black Seeds, Nesian Mystik, Bic Runga, The Checks, Julia Deans, King Kapisi, The Naked and Famous, Autozamm and Elemeno P.

Smokefree’s - Smoking Not Our Future Campaign
Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats play a large part in helping the HPA’s successful ‘Smoking Not Our Future’ campaign get its key messages in front of a large audience of young people. Smokefree has been the naming rights sponsor of Smokefreerockquest for 24 of its 26 years and this longstanding partnership has been mutually beneficial. This year young people will continue to be asked to join ‘The Movement’, which encourages youth to get more involved in helping New Zealand become smokefree by 2025. Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats 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.

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