Smokefreerockquest and Tangata Beats – Nelson solo-duo top 2

Smokefreerockquest and Tangata Beats – Nelson solo-duo top 2 and band heats results.

Live music, original songs, selfies and first time nerves – it was all part of the mix at the Theatre Royal on Saturday in this year’s Smokefreerockquest Nelson heats.

Over 700 bands and solo/duos will go through regional heats and finals in over 20 venues from Invercargill to Whangarei between May 5 and July 6.

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.

“The competition is merely the framework on which we hang the opportunity to perform and for entrants to learn from each other. They pick up skills such as stage presence from watching their peers, in a way that can’t be replicated in the classroom.”

The top two Nelson Marlborough solo/duos selected at the heats are Brooklyn Scott from Garin College (first) and Chloe Vitale from Marlborough Girls’ College (second).

For singer-guitarist Brooklyn (14), it was her second Smokefreerockquest, and she said with a lot more entries in the solo-duo category than last year, the competition was much tougher.

“When I heard them read out second place I thought ‘that’s it’, so I was really surprised to some first,” she said. “I think my diction was clear and I talked to the audience to give them a sense of who I am – that might have helped to impress the judge.”

First and second placed solo-duo both go into the judging pool for the national final, and will be joined by the top two bands selected at the Nelson finals on May 18.

The SmokefreeTangata Beats Award went to Odd Socks from Nelson College for Girls, who now submit footage to be selected for that event’s national final.

These are the top 12 bands to play off at the Nelson regional final at the Theatre Royal, start time 7pm, tickets from the Theatre or TicketDirect (presales advised as this event will sell out).

Verbatim Waimea College
The Recliners Nayland College
Blind Eye Waimea College
Odd Socks Nelson College for Girls & Garin College
Equinox Nelson College for Girls
The Unreliables Waimea College
Shut up Connor Waimea College
Solasta Nelson College For Girls
Elysian Waimea College
Acoustic Knot Waimea College
Scarface and the Codfish Nelson College & Waimea College
The People’s Jury Nelson College for Girls

At the Nelson final there are awards for the top three bands, the MAINZ Musicianship Award, Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship, Lowdown Best Song, the APRA Lyrics Award, the Fatboy Style Award and the People’s Choice voted by text.

The top regional bands and solo/duos submit footage for selection as finalists to play at the Smokefree Tangata Beats national final on Friday September 21 at the Dorothy Winstone Centre in Auckland, followed by the Smokefreerockquest national final on Saturday September 22.

The live events run from May 5 until July 6, and most regions will also be filmed for the hugely popular webisodes at www.sfrq.nz fronted this year by NZ’s ‘First Bloke’ Clarke Gayford.

Smokefreerockquest will celebrate 30 years with a Parliamentary launch by the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern on Monday May 7.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners that includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, $16,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package, a photo shoot and branding package from Imaginary Friends. There is also the Musicianship Award, the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, Best Song Award, Smokefree Vocals Award, Fatboy Style Award, and the People’s Choice.

Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest over its 30-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, Chelsea Jade, Nadia Reid, Aldous Harding, Steriogram, Phoenix Foundation, Devilskin, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga, and The Naked and Famous. Smokefree Tangata Beats standout successes include Alien Weaponry, Strangely Arousing Nesian Mystik, the only New Zealand band to ever have ten singles all certified gold or platinum.

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