Hawkes Bay Rockshop Bandquest 2014 results

Media Release: Hawkes Bay Rockshop Bandquest 2014 results

They may be young but they know how to rock – this year’s Hawkes Bay contestants took the stage last night (Sept 4) in this year’s regional final of Rockshop Bandquest, the nationwide music contest for intermediate and primary students.

Bandquest is in its fourth year as the younger sibling of Smokefreerockquest, and in the Hawkes Bay region attracted eleven keen entrants who competed at the Napier Municipal Theatre.

Event organizer Matt Ealand says the performances from this age group mix sophistication with a lack of self-consciousness.

“They’ve been watching TV and YouTube, they’re aware of what established musicians are doing and they want to emulate them,” he said. “But they are not worried about being mocked – they just get up there and give it heaps.”

Rockshop Bandquest is for bands of two or more members, from intermediate or primary schools, who play a short set of covers or original songs, with a focus on performance skills.

The awards made on Thursday night were:

First place winning $400 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Brad and Jack, Taradale Intermediate; also won the male vocalist award
Second place winning $200 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Tamatea All Stars from Tamatea Intermediate
Third place winning $100 credit with The Rockshop for their school: Neon, Napier Intermediate; the female vocalist award went to their lead singer Arielle O’Keeffe,
Best original song winning $100 cash for their school: Revived, Eskdale School; their lead singer Danica Bryant won the musicianship award.
Best original lyrics winning $50 cash for their school: Sound City, Havelock North Intermediate.
Rockstar Styles award: Ethan Young, keyboardist from Thunderstruck, Taradale Intermediate; ‘Killer’ guitarist award to Benjamin Smyth and rock-solid bassist award to Sam William also from this band
Rocking drummer award went to Nico Sipaia and the best keyboardist award went to John Apai, both from In Ya Earz, Heretaunga Intermediate

Rockshop spokesman, Hamish Jackson, says for many of the kids Rockshop Bandquest is the biggest musical moment of their lives.

“It’s great for us to be part of that, “ he says. “Bandquest provides a unique opportunity to intermediate kids, it’s all about participation and giving it a go. The kids definitely throw themselves into it and the results have been amazing.”

This year over 160 bands have entered Rockshop Bandquest, competing in Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Tauranga, Napier, Hamilton and Auckland, with mentoring sessions from successful Smokefreerockquest bands in the afternoon of each regional event, and on-line entries for bands in outlying areas. There will be an online national final announcement on Wednesday 24 September, via bandquest.co.nz.

Ends

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