North Shore Smokefreerockquest 2011 results

Media Release

North Shore Smokefreerockquest 2011 results

It was a full on weekend for over 60 bands competing in the North Shore regional finals of Smokefreerockquest at the Bruce Mason Centre.

On Saturday night the winner was an acoustic duo, Five Mile Town, made up of guitarist Adam Quigley from Auckland Grammar and Louis McDonald from Takapuna Grammar who plays guitar, sings and plays harmonica. Second place went to singer-songwriter Hannah Horsfield from Kaipara College, whose skills on keyboard and guitar also won her the Smokefree Award for Women’s Musicianship.

On Sunday night honours went to Rangitoto College blues band Get off the Grass, whose members, Alex Estrin, Flynn Roser, Julius Hattingh and Matt Neale also won the Lowdown Best Song Award. Second place went to Sacred Heart College reggae band, Sweet Release.

Winner and second placegetter from each night go on to compete for one of the six national finalist spots in this year’s Smokefreerockquest, and win musical gear from NZ Rockshops. Already in the process are the winners from the three nights of Auckland finals held last month. (Scroll down for more North Shore awards and the top eight bands for each night.)

Rockquest Promotions Founders and Directors Glenn Common and Pete Rainey said from here on the Auckland 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 North Shore Smokefreerockquest all entrants got the real life experience of rock stardom - performing on the big stage in the Bruce Mason Centre. There were 62 entrants who performed over the two days, with eight called back for each evening final.

Saturday top eight:
Five Mile Town Takapuna Grammar School & Auckland Grammar School
Hannah Horsfield Kaipara College
Neeze & the Space Kadetzz Takapuna Grammar School
Exit 420 Takapuna Grammar School & Kristin School
Soon To Be Green Bay High School
Ben and Julz Waiheke High School
Shamus of Berry Fame Albany Senior High School
Heart Vacancy Orewa College

Sunday top eight:
Get off the Grass Rangitoto College
Sweet Release Sacred Heart College
Ultraviolet Rangitoto College Petra Bullock
Takapuna Grammar School
Platform 9 Albany Junior High School
Boy Red Rangitoto College
Pressure Drop Albany Senior & Junior High Schools, Westlake Girls High School
The Third Protocol Long Bay College

Other North Shore awards made on the weekend.
Third place winning musical gear from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers:
(Sat) Neeze & the Space Kadetzz, Takapuna Grammar School
(Sun) Ultraviolet, Rangitoto College
Smokefree People’s Choice:
(Sat) Heart Vacancy, Orewa College
(Sun) Platform 9, Albany Junior 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 final:
(Sat) Elijah White, the drummer from Exit 420, Takapuna Grammar School
(Sun) Guy Harrison, guitarist from Boy Red, Rangitoto College
APRA Lyric writer’s award:
(Sat) Savannah Hope Cox, Kaipara College for her song Teacups.
(Sun) Shannon Casey, Albany Junior High for her song Rocketships.
Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship:
(Sun) Chiaki Fenemore, guitarist from Ultra Violet
Lowdown Best Song:
(Sat) Shamus of Berry Fame, Albany Senior High School
To find out more about Smokefreerockquest 2011, visit the official website sfrq.co.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media