Seven piece progressive-rock band The Recliners from Nayland College took first place at the Nelson Smokefreerockquest
at the Theatre Royal on Friday night.
Vocalist Harry Stocker says the band in its current line up has several members from last year’s Nelson
Smokefreerockquest second place-getter ‘So Far’.
“We felt fairly confident at the start of tonight, but everyone else was really really good,” he said. “Our four-part
vocal harmonies and the two guitars harmonizing over each other may have been what helped us stand out for the judges.”
Stocker had the crowd with him for the band’s first song ‘Coming Home’ which he says is about returning to New Zealand
after living in Egypt, where his parents were teaching.
The rest of the line up is Isaac Stewart (bass), Tino Monopoli (drums), Ben Kirby (keyboard), Ben Dowdle (vocals), Reese
Milton (guitar) and Luke Wilkes (guitar).
Second placed band was Waimea College hard rock band Blind Eye, with members Jack Rollinson (guitar), Jake Lyth (drums),
Rebecca Findlay (bass) and Oscar Pahl (guitar) and Bailey Bartholomew Katene (vocals). Blind Eye also won the ZM
People’s Choice voted by text on the night.
These two acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and join solo-duo winners announced at the heats,
Brooklyn Scott from Garin College (first) and Chloe Vitale from Marlborough Girls’ College (second), in the opportunity
to gain selection for the national final in September.
Smokefreerockquest Founder and director Glenn Common says there are more bands than ever before reaching the high
standard required from national finalists.
“This means that real dedication is required to achieve the ‘stand out quality’ that the judges will be looking for,” he
said. “They have to capture 15 minutes of their original material on video for selection as national finalists. It’s a
process that demands creativity and musical ability, being able to work together as a group and having good
organisational skills. What separates them out is perseverance – industry success seldom happens overnight.”
And Common encouraged those who didn’t make it through to stick with their music.
“Some bands and soloists will no doubt go on to success in the Kiwi music industry like SFRQ alumnae Kimbra, Marlon
Williams and Shapeshifter, but for most of the young musicians SFRQ is about the experience of performing live on stage
in a professional set up, meeting others who share their passion for music, and getting constructive and impartial
feedback from more experienced musicians who are our judges and mentors.”
The full list of awards for Nelson is:
Band 1: The Recliners, Nayland College
Band 2: Blind Eye, Waimea College
Band 3: Equinox, Nelson College for Girls
Solo/Duo 1: Brooklyn Scott, Garin College
Solo/Duo 2: Chloe Vitale, Marlborough Girls’ College
Smokefree Tangata Beats Award: Odd Socks, Nelson College for Girls
ZM People’s Choice: Blind Eye, Waimea College
Smokefree Best Vocals: Ngawai Tia from Solasta, Nelson College For Girls
MAINZ Musicianship: Eva Fowler (guitar) Verbatim, Waimea College
Best Song: Acoustic Knot, Waimea College
Fatboy Style Award: Scarface and the Codfish, Nelson College & Waimea College
APRA Lyric Writers’ Award: Theo Feint, Golden Bay High School for ‘Heartbeat’
The Nelson Youth Council crowd engagement award: Scarface and the Codfish, Nelson College & Waimea College
The top regional bands and solo/duos submit footage for selection as finalists to play off at the Smokefreerockquest
national final on Saturday September 22 at the Dorothy Winstone Centre in Auckland, preceded by the Smokefree Tangata
Beats national final on Friday September 21.
The live events run from May 5 until July 6, and most regions will also be filmed for the hugely popular SFRQ webisodes
(sfrq.nz), fronted this year by NZ’s ‘First Bloke’ Clarke Gayford.
Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners that
includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, $16,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package, a photo shoot and branding
package from Imaginary Friends. There is also the Musicianship Award, the APRA (Australasian Performing Right
Association) Lyric Award, Best Song Award, Smokefree Vocals Award, Fatboy Style Award, and the ZM People’s Choice.
Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest over its 30-year history include Broods, Leroy Clampitt, Kimbra, Aaradhna,
Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Kids of 88, Die!Die!Die!, Joel Little, Tiny Ruins, Marlon Williams, Brooke Fraser, Anika
Moa, Chelsea Jade, Nadia Reid, Aldous Harding, Steriogram, Phoenix Foundation, Devilskin, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga,
and The Naked and Famous. Smokefree Tangata Beats standout successes include Alien Weaponry, Strangely Arousing Nesian
Mystik, the only New Zealand band to ever have ten singles all certified gold or platinum.
Ends
For further information and photos please contact Jacquetta Bell, publicist:
jacq@nelsonmedia.co.nz 03 546 9661 027 249 1206
Or Founder & director Glenn Common 021 744 536
Winner contact: Harry Stocker 022 367 1740
CAP: Harry Stocker (vocals), Isaac Stewart (bass), Tino Monopoli (drums), Ben Kirby (keyboard), Ben Dowdle (vocals),
Reese Milton (guitar) and Luke Wilkes (guitar).
Smokefreerockquest – 30 years of musical success: New Zealand’s nationwide, live, original music, youth event stages over 30 events giving young musicians the
opportunity to perform live in a professional setting, in venues from Whangarei to Invercargill. Smokefreerockquest
2018, powered by Rockshop, aims to motivate young musicians to strive for success, to realise the opportunities
available in music careers, and to encourage their peers to support original New Zealand music. The founders Glenn
Common and Pete Rainey were honoured with the MNZM in 2013, and continue to lead the team that now runs this New Zealand
institution. For more information visit www.sfrq.nz
Smokefree Tangata Beats recognises and reflects the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific. Participants must
incorporate Te Reo Maori or a Polynesian language, instruments, dance or movement in their performance. The event
motivates young musicians to express themselves with cultural relevance, and to encourage their peers to support
original Aotearoa Kiwi music. For more information go to www.sftb.nz
Smokefree has been supporting young Kiwis to showcase their passions for music for close to three decades. Thousands of musicians
have hit the stage and many have gone onto to do epic things on national and global levels. Being the naming right
sponsor of Smokefreerockquest gives another platform to show the benefits of a smokefree lifestyle and how smoking
really doesn’t have a place in young people’s bands or their world. Smokefree recognises that today’s musicians and
artists will play a huge role in shaping New Zealand’s future as we head towards the goal of Smokefree 2025.
Rockquest Promotions: In 1989 Glenn Common and Pete Rainey picked up a radio station school music contest in Christchurch. The event went
nationwide in 1990, and in ’91 Smokefree became the main sponsor. SFRQ founders Glenn and Pete were honoured with the
MNZM for Services to Music in 2013, and continue to lead the team that now runs this New Zealand institution, from
offices in Nelson and Auckland. From 2018 Rockquest Promotions is also producing the dance and drama event Showquest in
ten regions. For more information visit www.showquest.nz