North Shore band wins Rockshop Bandquest

Old Greg’s Love Shack L to R: Liam Barr, James Thorrington, Nick Lehtola, Adam Thorndyke, Miles Timmis

Media Release: 2014 Rockshop Bandquest National Final Results

A North Shore band with the quirky title Old Greg’s Love Shack has been named this year’s national winner of Rockshop Bandquest, the nationwide music contest for intermediate and primary students.

The members of the five-piece band are all in Year 8 at Northcross Intermediate, and got their band name from the BBC comedy The Mighty Boosh.

Miles Timmis (vocals) says they formed the band earlier this year to enter Rockshop Bandquest and to have fun.

“We all grew up with music like Led Zeppelin and The Beatles and that has influenced our sound, though we played Rope by the Foo Fighters in the finals,” he said. “We were completely surprised when we heard we’d won and we’re keen to be to playing on the instruments that the school gets as the prize.”

The other members of the winning band are James Thorrington who won Rocking Drummer and the Musicianship Award, Liam Barr (lead guitar), Nick Lehtola (bass) and Adam Thorndyke (rhythm guitar) who won the Rockstar Styles Award.

Old Greg’s Love Shack wins credit with NZ Rockshops to the value of $3000 for their school music department, plus a professional recording of their winning song.

Second place, winning credit with NZ Rockshops to the value of $1000 for their school music department went to Just Kedgley 2 from Kedgley Intermediate, Manukau.

The judges for 2014 Rockshop Bandquest were Lani Perkis from Delete Delete and Jared Wrennall from Steriogram and Go Stop Go. Jared says he was really impressed with the standard and musical ability of the finalists.

“There was a level of confidence I hadn’t expected to see,” he said. “Liam Barr, the lead guitarist from the winning band was just rocking out and they all looked like they were having fun.”

Jared also commented on the creativity of second placed band Just Kedgely, who reworked the Lorde hit Royals with a creative ‘dubbed up’ spin; and on the skill required for the four part harmonies of third placed band 5th Element from Otumoetai Intermediate in Tauranga.

Bandquest is in its fourth year as the younger sibling of Smokefreerockquest, and attracted over 160 keen entrants who either competed at venues in ten regions around the country or online. It 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 2014 Rockshop Bandquest awards were:

Third place, winning credit with NZ Rockshops to the value of $500 for their school music department: 5th Element, Otumoetai Intermediate, Bay of Plenty

Best Original Song - $200 Cash for their school music department: War Games, by Unidentified, Chisnallwood Intermediate, Canterbury

Best Original Lyrics - $100 Cash for their school music department: Star, by Absurd, Berkley Normal Middle School, Waikato

Female Vocalist: Raychel Te Kira, Rosey Te Kira and Alysha Eshaya from Whaunaungatanga, Avalon Intermediate, Wellington

Male Vocalist: Jack McCarthy, Brad and Jack, Taradale Intermediate, Hawkes Bay

Musicianship Award: James Thorrington (drummer), Old Greg’s Love Shack, North Shore

Rockstar Styles: Adam Thorndyke (lead guitar), Old Greg’s Love Shack

Killer Guitarist: Haritoa Chelsey, 5th Element, Otumoetai Intermediate

Rock-solid Bassist: Jordan Dornan, Phased Out, Fairfield Intermediate, Waikato

Rocking Drummer: James Thorrington, Old Greg’s Love Shack

Best Keyboardist: Olive Harvey North, Classic, Nelson Intermediate

Ends

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