Rotorua Smokefreerockquest 2011 results

Media Release

Rotorua Smokefreerockquest 2011 results

A pop-funk band from band from Taupo-nui-a-Tia College won the 2011 Rotorua Smokefreerockquest regional final in front of a crowd over 500 at the Convention Centre on Sunday night.

A Bit Nigel lead guitarist and vocalist Hamish Nixon says it was their second year in Smokefreerockquest and they are really keen this year to make it to the national final. Hamish can’t really explain where the band got their name, but says it was ‘the only one they could agree on’. He says with all three boys doing vocals they had worked hard on their harmonies.

“Our songs are quite melodic which might have helped us to stand out from heavier bands,” he says. “We had a lot of fun on stage, we really gave it our all - it was the best we’d ever played.”

The other members of A Bit Nigel are Sam Marshall on bass and synthesizer and Manawa Veitayaki on drums and backing vocals. Manawa won the Mainz Musicianship Award with the opportunity to be selected for the $4500 Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship, announced at the national finals.

Second place and the Lowdown Best Song Award went to Kaleidosonic, also from Taupo-nui-a-Tia College. The band members are Dyalla Swain on lead guitar, Nick Cameron on drums, Denholm Orr on bass and backing vocals and Matthew Paull, the lead singer and rhythm guitarist.

These top two bands win musical gear from NZ Rockshops and go on to compete for one of six national finalist spots in this year’s Smokefreerockquest.

Rockquest Promotions Founders and Directors Glenn Common and Pete Rainey said from here on the Rotorua finalists would have to work hard and draw on their creativity to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.

“The bands to play off at the national final in September are chosen from DVDs of their own music,” Common said. “This means they’ll need to work together as a group and develop the skills that will turn their talent into success.”

The six national finalists will be selected from a pool made up of first and second place-getters from each of the 27 regional finals, and bands from Rockshop Second Chance, an opportunity for established bands who feel they didn’t play at their best on the night. Last year’s record of 800 entrants has already been exceeded, with more entries to come as Christchurch bands have been given an extended deadline.

In term three, Smokefreerockquest and the NZ Music Commission, with funding from the Ministry of Education, will partner the regional winner with a mentor band - a band that is some years ahead and has first hand knowledge of the industry.

The national final will be held this year in the new 5000-seat Claudelands Arena in Hamilton on 17 September. The prize package is designed as a big helping hand into the music industry. It includes a NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth $10,000, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshops, recording time at York St Studio, 1000 single CDs produced by Forge Media, and radio and TV play of single. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award and the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award.

In this year’s Rotorua Smokefreerockquest all entrants got the real life experience of rock stardom - performing on the big stage in the Convention Centre. There were 39 entrants who performed in the afternoon, with eight called back for the evening final. Other regional awards made on Saturday night were:

Third place winning musical gear from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers: Allies, Otumoetai College.
Smokefree People’s Choice: Aftershock, Western Heights High School and John Paul College.
The APRA Lyric Writer’s Award judged from lyrics submitted at the heats: Alayna Powley, Western Heights High School.
Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Ruby Solly the lead singer from Brand New Balloon, Tauhara College.

To find out more about Smokefreerockquest 2011, visit the official website sfrq.co.nz.

ENDS

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