Smokefreerockquest 2017 – Hawkes Bay finals results

Smokefreerockquest 2017 – Hawkes Bay finals results Saturday 10 June

Rock fusion band Charlie Whack from Havelock North High School took out the Hawkes Bay regional final of Smokefreerockquest in front of a crowd of 350 at Napier Boys’ High School on Saturday night.

Bassist Arran Cargill-Brown has been competing for five years and said it was ‘really nice’ to take out the top spot. He puts the Year 11 and 13 band’s win down to their musical creativity.

“We really tried to go outside of our comfort zone with what we were playing - using less conventional chord sequences, but still trying to write stuff that would appeal to the whole audience,” he said. “We felt as though we had done our best though we were quite intimidated by the quality of the other bands. We knew it was quite a tight competition, so we were really humbled when we found out we had won.”

The other members of Charlie Whack are Tom Smith (vocals, guitar), Sam Nisbet (drums and Matt Nisbet (guitar).

Horizon from Hastings Boys' High School place second; the band members are LJ Crichton, Jordan Fuimano, Victory Peni, John Sali, Latu Amani, Posala Hunt.

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 Isabelle Lorch from Taradale High School and Ruby Tuesday (Ruby McKnight) from Napier Girls’ High School who placed first and second in the Hawkes Bay solo-duo section announced at the regional heats last month.

Founder and director Pete Rainey said from here on the Hawkes Bay 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: Charlie Whack from Havelock North High School

Band 2nd: Horizon from Hastings Boys' High School

Band 3rd: Elephant Room from Napier Boys' High School

Smokefree Pacifica Beats Award (announced at heats): Horizon from Hastings Boys’ High School,

Solo/Duo 1st (announced at heats): Isabelle Lorch from Taradale High School

Solo/Duo 2nd (announced at heats): Ruby Tuesday (Ruby McKnight) from Napier Girls’ High School

APRA Lyric Award: Danica Bryant from Napier Girls’ High School

Lowdown Best Song: Quick Fixx from Havelock North High School for their song ‘Metaphorically Speaking’

The Mainz Musicianship Award: Bassist Arran Cargill-Brown from Charlie Whack from Havelock North High School

Smokefree Vocals Award: All vocalists from Horizon from Hastings Boys' High School

People’s Choice voted by text: Precious Years from Havelock North High 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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