Smokefreerockquest 2011 results

Media Release REGION Smokefreerockquest 2011 results

It was third time lucky for electro-punk band Colour Classic from Mt Aspiring College who won the 2011 Smokefreerockquest regional final at the Lake Wanaka Centre on Friday night.

Guitarist Hugh Haworth says the band won the two previous years as Mercury Brigade, but since their bass player left school they pulled in Rohan Brash on synth.

“This gives us much more build up in the higher register,” he says. “We’ve definitely improved since our first year of entering Smokefreerockquest, our sound has evolved a lot.’

Hamish says band’s high energy stage act added to their success, with vocalist Kape Sinnott really putting out for the crowd. The line up is completed by Thomas Dickson on drums.

Second place went to The Fletchers from Wakatipu High School, a four piece rock band made up of
Damon Spijkerbosch on drums, George Hartshorn on electric guitar, Jacob Sheehy on rhythm guitar and Sam Maxwell on bass.

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. Colour Classic also win a place at a Sounz Forza workshop in Wanaka in October with guest tutors Anika Moa, and Barnaby Weir from The Blackseeds and Fly My Pretties.

Rockquest Promotions Founders and Directors Glenn Common and Pete Rainey said from here on the Central Otago 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 Central Otago Smokefreerockquest all entrants got the real life experience of rock stardom - performing on the big stage in the Lake Wanaka Centre. The other regional awards made on Friday night were:

Third place winning musical gear from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers: Dub Side from Wakatipu High School. They also won the Lowdown Best Song Award, and their keyboard player and vocalist Hertzog Burger 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.

Smokefree People’s Choice: Smokescreen from Wakatipu High School

The APRA Lyric Writer’s Award judged from lyrics submitted at the heats: Eugene Wolfin from Black Camel of Mt Aspiring College for their song Weird Shop.

Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: soloist Sahara McDonald.

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

ENDS

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