East Coast Smokefreerockquest 2011 results

Media Release East Coast Smokefreerockquest 2011 results

Getting the sack from a job provided the inspiration for a song that took a four-piece hard rock band to success in the 2011 Smokefreerockquest East Coast final at the Gisborne Showgrounds Park Event Centre on Saturday night.

The lead guitarist from Wolfe, Sam Robinson, says when he was fired he wrote the song called ’Make it Happen’.

“I thought I needed to start making things happen in my life – like my career.”

It was the second Smokefreerockquest for most of the band, and Sam says this time they gave it their all.

“Last year we only practiced together for 20 minutes before we went on stage and we got nowhere,” he said. “This year we were really hungry for it and much more confident in front of the crowd.”

The band is hoping to put their prize winnings towards getting a new PA. The other members of Wolfe are Sam Lindgren, Taylor Kirk and Chase Bakie. The boys attend Gisborne Boys’ High, Lytton High School and Campion College, but entered Smokefreerockquest through Gisborne Girls’ High School, where they meet to practise.

Second place went to soloist Talia Marama from Campion College.

These top two acts 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 East Coast 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 East Coast Smokefreerockquest all entrants got the real life experience of rock stardom - performing on the big stage in the Showgrounds Park Event Centre. There were 24 entrants who performed in the afternoon, and the ten called back for the evening final were:

Wolfe Gisborne Girls' High School
Fluro Black Gisborne Girls' High School
GabsusL Campion College
Perpetual Dawn Campion College Lytton HS
Rebound Gisborne Girls High School
Talia Marama Campion College
Jacs apparently Gisborne Boys' High School
Imbrofexin Gisborne Girls' High School
Polar Bear Stare Campion College
Rusty Rebels Ilminster Intermediate

Other regional awards made on Saturday night.
Third place winning musical gear from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers: Perpetual Dawn from Campion College & Lytton High School
Smokefree People’s Choice (3 bands): Perpetual Dawn from Campion College & Lytton High School, Fluro Black from Gisborne Girls' High School, Rebound from Gisborne Girls High School
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: Gabrielle Love from GabsusL, Campion College
The APRA Lyric Writer’s Award judged from lyrics submitted at the heats: ‘You are not alone’ from GabsusL, Campion College
Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Susannah Lupman from GabsusL, Campion College

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

ENDS

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