SMOKEFREE PACIFICA BEATS 2015 - Auckland Heats preview

SMOKEFREE PACIFICA BEATS 2015 - Auckland Heats preview

A full whanau turnout is expected for many of the young musicians competing in the heats of the Auckland Smokefree Pacifica Beats at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau next weekend (June 20).

The heats are free, which Smokefree Pacifica Beats producer Elena Lome makes it a great event for whanau to come along and support their young people. She says it’s a very supportive environment, with baby brothers and sisters through to grandparents making it a day out.

“There’s quite range of skill levels at the heats in terms of songwriting and performance, for some of the bands and singers it may be their first time on stage,” Elena says. “They get a lot out of being in live performance setting and seeing the level that more experienced bands have reached.”

This year’s Smokefree Pacifica Beats heats feature a free youth arts event. Toi Expo will be set up in the venue foyer and will feature stalls, a live DJ, breakdancing demos and workshops by tertiary providers and youth organisations including PIPA (Pacific Islands Performing Arts School).

The Auckland bands playing off at the heats on Saturday 20 June are:

Find The Time Edegewater College
Serven8 Alfriston College
Jalaina Hitchen Rangitoto College
3 Crotchets Lowah Mangere College
Name TBC Wesley Intermediate
Tyla AGGS
Tunity Alfriston College
Taniwha TKKM o Hoani Waititi
Native Beats TKKM o Hoani Waititi
Doubt it Otahuhu College
DVS (Devious) Mcauley High School
Nesian Vibes Manurewa HS
S.T.H Massey High School
Deez Coconuts Manurewa HS
Musguitars Manurewa HS
Blessed Manurewa HS
Fayth Henry Manurewa HS
Sally Seuula & Kravits Manurewa HS
Tequilla Moses Manurewa HS
Jay Manurewa HS
Raah Papa Manurewa HS
Justine Pearce Manurewa HS
Promethean Aorere College
Jubilee Aorere College
Zenith Soulz Sir Edmund Hillary College
Soulfood Marcellin College
Rizon Sir Edmund Hillary College
Hillabreeze Sir Edmund Hillary College
Adolescent Vibes Papatotoe High School
TNR Papatotoe High School
The Clinic Papatotoe High School
Revived Rhythm Avondale College
Emanon De La Salle College
Sonatana Kaufusi Manurewa HS
Sixth Sense Kia Aroha College
Mus101 De La Salle College
Choc Box De La Salle College
Miguel De La Salle College
Redeem De La Salle College

The top 10 bands and two solo/duos will go on to the Auckland regional Smokefree Pacifica Beats final, at the Dorothy Winstone Centre on Friday July 3, start time 7pm, tickets $10 at the door.

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.

When the regional heats and finals are complete, the top two bands and solo/duos from each region submit video footage for selection as national finalists to play off in Auckland on Saturday 12 September.

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

Ends

For further information on SFRQ & SFPB 2015 please contact:

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