SMOKEFREEROCKQUEST 2015 - Wairarapa final results

SMOKEFREEROCKQUEST 2015 - Wairarapa final results

Halafaxa were named this year’s Wairarapa winners of Smokefreerockquest at King Street Live on Saturday night. More than two-hundred supporters turned out to see eight bands and two solo/duo acts battle it out for their respective titles.

The winning four-piece competed in 2014, returning this year with a ‘more unique sound’ and a new name. Halafaxa lead vocalist, Sarah Saunders (St Matthew’s Collegiate), puts their success down to a year of refinement.

“We built on the feedback we received (from Smokefreerockquest) last year and that really helped develop our writing,” she says. “We recently did some recording, which was a great experience and also helped us as a band.”

Saunders says that the desire to improve doesn’t stop at winning the regional final.

“We’re so excited to win, but it was mainly about the opportunity to play alongside other talented bands. We’ll probably go home and have a rest and then be back into it tomorrow.”

Other members of the alt-rock group are Frank Dickson (guitar, Wairarapa College), Luka Francis-Murray (drums, Kuranui College), and Sebastian Vallance (bass, Rathkeale College).

Second place in the band category went to Ore, made up of Chanel College’s Louis Dotrice (lead vocals and guitar), Josh Ingle (drums), and Oliver Waller (bass).

With just her voice and acoustic guitar, Lauren Carr from Dannevirke High School took out first place in the solo/duo section. Coming into the competition she felt she was the underdog against her duet competitors. Carr was pleasantly surprised with her success, which she attributed to her lyrics.

“I was not expecting it. The duo I was up against had harmonies and everything,” she says. “I don’t come from a musical family at all..both my parents are tone deaf. But it’s about passion. I write about what I’m passionate about and I guess that comes across in my voice and my performance.”

Carr was also awarded the APRA Lyric Writers Award, taking home $50 cash on the night.

Second place went to Coltq from Kuranui High School, made up of Charlotte Penman (acoustic guitar and vocals) and Katarina Topp (vocals).

These four acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the opportunity to gain selection for the national final at Auckland’s Raye Freedman Centre on Friday 11 September.

Smokefreerockquest Founder and director Glenn Common says there are more bands than ever before reaching the high standard required from national finalists.

“This means that real dedication is required to achieve the ‘stand out quality’ that the judges will be looking for,” he said. “They have to capture 15 minutes of their original material on video in a process that demands creativity and musical ability, being able to work together as a group and having good organisational skills. What separates them out is perseverance – industry success seldom happens overnight.”

The full list of awards made on Saturday night was:

Band 1st place: Halafaxa – St Matthew's Collegiate (Masterton), Wairarapa College,
Kuranui College, Rathkeale College

Band 2nd place: Ore – Chanel College

Solo/Duo 1st place: Lauren Carr – Dannevirke High School

Solo/Duo 2nd place: Coltq – Kuranui College

Band 3rd place: Freddy Crabz – Rathkeale College

APRA Lyric Award: Lauren Carr – Dannevirke High School

Lowdown Best Song: Before Sunrise – Kuranui College

Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Manaia Riwai-Couch, bass player in Hineahuone – Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Wairarapa

People’s Choice voted by text: Hineahuone – Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Wairarapa

MAINZ musicianship award with the opportunity to win a $4000 MAINZ scholarship: Henry Phelps, drummer in Freddy Crabz – Rathkeale College

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and the solo/duo winners that include $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 and the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award. The People’s Choice award is voted by text with the opportunity to open the Smokefreerockquest national final.

Finalist judging process: Two bands from each of the 24 regional finals submit 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

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