Smokefreerockquest – Hawkes Bay heats results

Smokefreerockquest – Hawkes Bay heats results.

Aspiring teen musicians conquered their nerves and played their songs at the local Smokefreerockquest heats, held on Sunday at Napier Boys High School; where the top 12 bands and solo-duos in Hawkes Bay were selected to go through to the regional final. (time and place below)

Over 650 bands and solo/duos will go through regional heats and finals in 24 towns from Invercargill to Kaitaia between now and 2 July. Founder and Director Glenn Common says while Smokefreerockquest is a competition, the environment at the heats is very supportive and the emphasis is on participation.

“Some entrants will no doubt go on to success in the Kiwi music industry, but for most of the young musicians SFRQ is all about the experience of performing live on stage in a professional set up, meeting others who share their passion for performing music, and getting constructive and impartial feedback from more experienced musicians who are our judges and mentors.”

There were 15 solo/duos entered for Hawkes Bay and because they were varied and of a strong overall standard judges decided to let four through to the regional final, rather than the usual two. These four will play off for first and second place and a chance in the judging pool for the national final:

Teia Drysdale Napier Girls' High School

Mia Taradale High School

Madimac Napier Girls' High School

Arran Cargill-Brown Havelock North High School

The top 10 bands to play off at the regional final are:

Emphasis Napier Girls' High School

l4 Flaxmere College

Vertigo Napier Boys' High School

Critical Theory Napier Boys' High School

Sync Flaxmere College

Sinister Bliss Napier Girls' High School, William Colenso College

Regal in Black Napier Girls' High School

High Voltage Flaxmere College
Skivvy Napier Girls' High School
Headlock Havelock North High School

The Hawkes Bay regional final is at the Municipal Theatre on Saturday 23 May, 7pm, tickets are $10 school students and $20 adults from Ticketek or at the door.

At the regional final the top two bands are selected to go into the national finalists judging pool, and other awards and prizes are presented.

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 the Raye Freedman Centre in Auckland on Friday 11 September.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and the solo/duo winners, that includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, a $20,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package’ a ‘Decent Exposure’ campaign on FOUR, a photo shoot with Thievery Studio, a branding package from Imaginary Friends and the Unleashed Travel ambassador award – a seven day trip to Fiji.
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 Smokefreerockquest National final.

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

ENDS

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