Waikato finals results Saturday 27 May

Smokefreerockquest 2017 – Waikato finals results Saturday 27 May

They made it to the Smokefreerockquest national finals last year and Half Eaten Pie from Te Awamutu College could be set for national success after winning the Waikato regionals at Clarence Street Theatre on Saturday night.

Lead guitar and vocals Lachlan Oosterman said there was an ‘insanely good’ line up of bands so they were still surprised to win, and he puts this down to impressing the judges by ‘going crazy’ on stage.

“We just released as much energy as we possibly could and really got the crowd going,” he said.

Lachlan added that their Smokefreerockquest experience also helped: “Our experience at the national finals and the people we met there meant a lot of doors have opened for us to do more gigs which means we’re a lot more comfortable on stage.”

The other members of Half Eaten Pie are Hayden Mcfie (bass), and Matthew Church (drums).

Rural Delivery from Hauraki Plains College placed second; the band members are Naamah Cheiban (lead guitar and vocals), Ella McLennan (bass and vocals), Declan Tully (drums) and Letitia Mackenzie (vocals). This band also won Smokefree Pacifica Beats for Waikato.

These two bands win musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops and their suppliers. They now submit 15 minutes of their best material for selection as national finalists; along with Samantha Marriner from Hauraki Plains College and George Woolston & Arjun Duggal from Hamilton Boys' High School who placed first and second in the Waikato solo-duo section announced at the regional heats last week.

Founder and director Pete Rainey said from here on the Waikato finalists would have to be well organised and work hard to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.

“They have to submit video footage of their original music that will be judged in August as we lead up to the national final,” he said. “This process not only demands musical ability and creativity, they also learn to work together as a group and to develop the organisation and promotional skills they’ll need if they're going to make it on the Kiwi music scene.”

The full list of awards made on Saturday was:
Band 1st: Half Eaten Pie from Te Awamutu College

Band 2nd: Rural Delivery from Hauraki Plains College

Band 3rd: Sonder from Morrinsville College

Smokefree Pacifica Beats Award (announced at heats): Rural Delivery from Hauraki Plains College

Solo/Duo 1st (announced at heats): Samantha Marriner from Hauraki Plains College

Solo/Duo 2nd (announced at heats): George Woolston & Arjun Duggal from Hamilton Boys' High School

APRA Lyric Award: Bryre Aish, Hamilton Girls’ High School

Lowdown Best Song: Mr McMurphy, Cambridge High School

The Mainz Musicianship Award: Dunstan Dalin, the drummer from Pink Tea, Morrinsville College

Smokefree Vocals Award: Kaleesha Messent from Mirrors, Hamilton Girls' High School

People’s Choice voted by text: Midnight in May, St Peter's School

The regional events for both Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats run from May 12 until July 7, with the top regional bands and solo/duos submitting video footage for selection to play off at the Smokefree Pacifica Beats national final on Friday September 1 at the Dorothy Winstone Centre in Auckland, followed by the Smokefreerockquest national final on Saturday September 2.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners that includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, a $16,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package’ a ‘Decent Exposure’ campaign on The Edge TV, a photo shoot and branding package from Imaginary Friends. 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, Smokefree Vocals Award, and the People’s Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the Smokefreerockquest national final.

Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest over its 28-year history include Broods, Leroy Clampitt, Kimbra, Aaradhna, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Kids of 88, Die!Die!Die!, Joel Little, Tiny Ruins, Marlon Williams, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Kora, Thomston, Midnight Youth, Steriogram, Phoenix Foundation, Devilskin, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga, and The Naked and Famous; Smokefree Pacifica Beats standout successes include Nesian Mystik, the only New Zealand band to ever have ten singles all certified gold or platinum.

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