Northland Smokefreerockquest 2012 results

Northland Smokefreerockquest 2012 results

An acoustic duo shone out against competing bands to win the Northland Smokefreerockquest regional final at Forum North on Saturday night.

‘Luke and Amberly’ from Kamo High School, are Luke Rielly on acoustic guitar and vocalist Amberly Shepherd.

Amberly says the couple have been going out for over a year, and playing music together for the same amount of time.

“I write the lyrics and Luke writes the music,” she says. “One of our songs tonight was about a fight we had and the other was about music and performing – really our songs can be about pretty much anything.”

Amberly describes their sound as pop ‘with our own twist’ and says both she and Luke are serious about making a career out of their music.

Second place went to rock band Deadweight Empire from Ruawai College and Otamatea High School, made up of Tasman Salter (rhythm guitar), Ryan Bradley (drums), Jack Williamson (bass) and Jake Powell (lead guitar).

These top two bands win musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops and go on to compete for one of eight national finalist spots in this year’s Smokefreerockquest national final at Claudelands in Hamilton on 22 September.

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

“In August judges will be selecting the eight finalists from DVDs of their own original music,” Common said. “There are a range of skills they’ll need to pull this together – creativity and musical ability are important, but they also learn to work together as a group and have to be well organised to produce the video footage that could be their next step towards Kiwi music success.”

The eight national finalists will be selected from a pool made up of first and second place-getters from each of the 24 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.

Smokefreerockquest powered by Rockshop, has a prize package that includes musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, a NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth over $10,000, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, a radio promotional support for a single, and video play on youth music channel FOUR. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award and the Skinny People’s Choice, voted by text, with the opportunity to open at the SFRQ National final.

Other regional awards made on Saturday night.
Third place winning musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops and their suppliers: The Vybes, Otamatea High School

APRA Lyric Award: Francis Bradley from Kaitaia College

Lowdown Best Song: Hot Plate, Excellere College

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: Luke Reilly from Kamo College

Smokefree Award For Women’s Musicianship: Bianca Erceg, the bassist from Hot Plate, Excellere College

Skinny People’s Choice voted by text: The Vybes, Otamatea High School

To find out more about Smokefreerockquest 2012, visit the official website sfrq.co.nz.

ENDS

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