SMOKEFREE PACIFICA BEATS: Wellington region final on 12 June

SMOKEFREE PACIFICA BEATS 2015 – Wellington region final on 12 June

Young musos with a Maori or Pacifica Flavour to their sound have the chance to shine next Saturday in the Wellington Smokefree Pacifica Beats 2015.

Smokefree Pacifica Beats producer Elena Lome says the event offers the students a platform for a live performance.

“Students enter Smokefree Pacifica Beats for all sorts of reasons – some are focussed on a career in music, some are in it just for fun but for many it is the journey more than the outcome or prizes that attracts them,” Elena says. “By working in groups and performing on a professional stage they learn a lot about themselves, the music industry, their own skills and they gain so much confidence.”

Smokefree Pacifica Beats recognises and reflects the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific, with entrants required to have some Maori or Pacific cultural elements in their music or performance.

Those competing to join the ranks of Kiwi music success at the Wellington regional final are:

Two Duos Hutt Valley High School
Oharo Hutt Valley High School
Marino Hutt Valley High School
Flow Beats and Vocals Hutt Valley High School
Aho Fitu Rongotai College
Harrison Pratt Hutt Valley High School
Tesa & Leonora Hutt Valley High School
Abbey Fa'avle Waiopehu College
Abbey and Viilami Waiopehu College

There may be some additional entries also from Porirua College, Mana College and Otaki College.

The Wellington regional SFPB final is at the Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt start time 5pm, tickets $10 at the door. The guest artist is singer songwriter, and former Smokefree Pacifica Beats national finalist, Stella Maris.

At the Wellington final awards are made for the top two bands, the MAINZ Musicianship Award, Smokefree Mana Wahine Award, the APRA Lyric Writers Award, Smokefree Best Vocals, Youth Performance Trust (YPT) Native Reo Award, YPT Best Song Award and the Recorded Music Solo/Duo Award.

When all regional the finals are complete, the top two bands and the top solo/duo from each region submit video footage and complete social media tasks to be selected as national finalists.

From the regional finalists pool, the top six Smokefree Pacifica Beats bands and the best solo/duos are invited to Auckland for a weekend of music, mentoring, kaupapa maori and tikanga at the Waipapa Marae (band camp), this year held at the University of Auckland; followed by the national final at the Raye Freedman Centre at Epsom Girls Grammar on Saturday September 12.

The SFPB national winners’ prize package includes musical gear to a total value of $3,000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, a $10,000 song and video package from NZ On Air and performance spots at some of the 2015/16 Auckland summer festivals.

There is also musical equipment from NZ Rockshops, the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship and cash prizes for the APRA Lyric Writers Award, the YPT Native Reo Award, the YPT Best Song, the Smokefree Mana Wahine Award, Smokefree Best Vocals Award and Recorded Music Best Solo/Duo Award

More information at smokefreepacificabeats.co.nz or facebook.com/SFPBeats

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