Smokefreerockquest & Smokefree Pacifica Beats finals preview

Smokefreerockquest & Smokefree Pacifica Beats 2017 national finals preview

Last year’s winners were nominated for a Silver Scroll, entries from right around New Zealand rocketed to a record 850 bands and solo-duos, and eyes are now on the national finals of the country’s most enduring music contests, Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats.

2016 winners of both events, thrash metal Te Reo band Alien Weaponry, will guest at the finals of Smokefree Pacifica Beats on Friday Sept 1 and Smokefreerockquest on Saturday September 2, both at Dorothy Winstone Centre at Auckland Girls Grammar School

Entrants competed over winter in 37 heats and finals from Invercargill to Whangarei, with the regional winners sending in video material judged by a panel from the NZ music industry. Judges spokesman Thomas Oliver said there was some truly unique and wonderful music this year: “One of the things that pleased me most was the entrants' abilities to use words in interesting and artistic ways. It's so good to see some really strong writers ready to make their way into the New Zealand music industry."

Twelve acts will play off in the national final of Smokefreerockquest on Saturday 2 September at the Dorothy Winstone Centre at Auckland Girls Grammar School.

THE SMOKEFREEROCKQUEST NATIONAL FINALISTS

O-Boy! Kaipara College: Bianca Bailey (drums and vocals) and Bryony Roberts (bass and vocals).

Daffodils, Western Springs College and Kristin School: Theodore Salmon (lead guitar and vocals), Isaac Keating (drums), Jade Bryham (keyboards and backing vocals) and Louis Graham (bass and backing vocals).

Minimal Silence, Howick College: Logan Anderson (bass player and vocalist), Sabastian Munro (lead guitar) and Mark Tohovaka (drums).

Minutes To Monday, Selwyn College: Neo Aiono-Fukushima (guitar and vocals), Jacob Worrell (drums) and Hamish Brown (bass).

Rural Delivery, Hauraki Plains College: Naamah Cheiban (lead guitar and vocals), Ella McLennan (bass and vocals), Declan Tully (drums) and Letitia Mackenzie (vocals).

Half Eaten Pie, Te Awamutu College: Lachlan Oosterman (lead guitar and vocals), Hayden Mcfie (bass), and Matthew Church (drums).

Run77, Christ’s College: Angus Mossman (lead guitarist and vocalist), Robert Rolleston (bass), Henry Phelps (guitar) and brothers Angus Murray (drums) and George Murray (keyboard and vocals).

Fuzhun, Shirley Boys' High School: Gideon Valavala (guitar and vocals), Tasipale Valavala (drums), Michael Mose (vocals), Loutoa Osai (bass), Temuera Hay (lead guitar), Josh Mosa'ati (vocals) and Keenan Jarvis (vocals).

Haze (People’s Choice voated by text), St Kentigern College: Ethan Jupe (lead guitar) Christina Middelbeek-Harrison (vocals), Jayden Welsh (drums), Thomas Mills (bass) and Thomas Hyland (rhythm guitar).

Solo-duos:

Sonatane Kaufusi, Manurewa High School, (vocals, keyboard, guitar)

Sam Egli, New Plymouth Boys’ High School, (vocals, guitar)

Ellie & Laura, Waimea College, Nelson; they are Laura Koleff (vocals, guitar) and Ellie Huxtable (keyboard, vocals, guitar).

SMOKEFREE PACIFICA BEATS NATIONAL FINALISTS

Smokefree Pacifica Beats entrants include an element of Maori or Pacifica culture in their act. The finalists to play off at the Dorothy Winstone Centre at Auckland Girls Grammar School on Friday 1 September are:

Blessed, Manurewa High School: Nicola Nimo (vocals), Henry Ape (vocals), Christmas Ale (bass), Moses Taala (drums), Dontay Masiutama (trumpet), Faaleseu Palelei (keyboard), Pito Pasi (vocals), Joseph Oti-George (guitar), Sonatane Kaufusi (trombone).

Jubilee, Aorere College, Auckland: Soakai Malamala (synth, brass, keys), John Pio (bass), David Fuimaono (drums), Irene Folau (voclas) Tylah Samaeli (vocals), Christian Schmidt (guitar).

Te Urewera, TKKM o Huiarau, Ruatahuna: Puhikura Teka (vocals), Rangiwhaitiri Edwards (bass), Kirihou Teka (vocals), Rangiataahua Tawhara-Mita (keys), Manaaki Ahuriri (drums).

Mellow, Gisborne Girls' High School: Samantha Booth (vocals), Niamh Athy (keys), Waimiria Coffey (vocals) Tylah Hei (bass).

Horizon, Hastings Boys' High School: Victory Peni (keys), John Sali (bass), Latu Amani (keys), Jordan Fuimaono (guitar), Lj Crichton (vocals), Posala Hunt (drums).

Kanuna, Porirua College: Debbie-Annalee Brown (vocals), Terrestrial Sianava (vocals), Armstrong Tengaru (ukelele) Ontreal Arai Panapa (guitar) Faleniko Fomai (drums), Jamie Soapi (vocals), Onehunga Faivalu (bass).

Proud Brown, Haeata Community Campus & Mairehau High School: PJ Iva (drums), Junior Muaimalae (guitar), Nunu Siaifa (bass), Grace Smith (keys), Lisha Anitelea (vocals), Evile Jireh Siosifo Laloata (vocals), Sholita Umutaua (vocals).

Fuzhun, Shirley Boys' High School: Gideon Valavala (guitar & vocals), Tasipale Valavala (drums), Michael Mose (vocals), Loutoa Osai (bass), Temuera Hay (lead guitar), Josh Mosa'ati (vocals), Keenan Jarvis (vocals).

Solo-duos:

Makayla & Lakum, Manurewa High School, Makayla Eli (guitar) & Lakem Vuna (vox).

Rose Campbell, Wairoa College.

GUEST BAND ALIEN WEAPONRY

The guest band is the dual winner of Smokefreerockquest and Pacfica Beats 2016, Alien Weaponry. Their mix of Te Reo and thrash metal has taken theircurrent hit Rū Ana Te Whenua to the finals of the APRA Sliver Scrolls.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and solo/duo 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, and the Smokefree Vocals Award. In addition Smokefree Pacifica Beats has the Smokefree Mana Wahine Award, the Reo Award and the New Zealand Music Commission Best Song Award.

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; plus Ria Hall, Spacifix, Adeaze, Strangely Arousing and Alien Weaponry.

ENDS

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