Teen bands launch into rockquest heats
Every band needs a name and Ivasa and The French Military are just a couple of inventive titles from from Nelson high school bands entered in this year’s Smokefreerockquest heats coming up this Saturday at the Annesbrook Church.
The Nelson bands and soloduos are among over 2000 young people who will compete in 20 regions from Invercargill to Whangarei in New Zealand’s only nationwide, live, all original, youth music competition.
Founder and director Glenn Common said the heats provide a supportive atmosphere for bands and solo/duos to perform a song they have written themslves to an audience of their peers, friends and families.
‘‘To perform live on stage is a great boost in confidence – it requires a lot of skills, not just musical ability,’’ he said.
Students can enter in the solo/ duo section as well as being part of a band; and they can be considered for Smokefree Pacifica Beats at the SFRQ heats if their performance has at least one Maori and/or Pacific element.
The winner of the solo/duo section will be announced at the regional heats along with the top 12 bands to go ahead to the regional final.
Saturday’s heats at the Annesbrook Church start at noon, tickets are $10 at the door.
The top 12 bands will be selected to play off at the Nelson final at the Theatre Royal on Friday, May 19 at 7pm. Tickets for the regional final are available from TicketDirect and at the door, adults $20, students $10.
SFRQ founder and director Pete Rainey says Smokefree has been supporting young Kiwis to showcase their passions for music for 27 years:
‘‘We’re proud to be part of a change that means smoking really doesn’t have a place in young people’s bands or their world today,’’ he said.
The regional events for both Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats run from May 12 until July 7, with the top regional bands and solo/duos submitting video footage for selection to play off at the Smokefree Pacifica Beats national final on Friday September 1 at the Dorothy Winstone Centre in Auckland, The Deadbeet Express Waimea College
RELM Waimea College
Fret 24 Nayland College
Acoustic Knot Waimea College Dylan’s Guns Waimea College Equinox Nelson College for Girls, Garin College
Everyone but Reuben Waimea College
Bassik Waimea College
The Turncoats Motueka High School
The Chords Waimea College
The French Military Waimea College
So Far Nayland College
Ivasa Nelson College
Bak2Bak Waimea College
The People’s Jury Nayland College, Nelson College
High Tides Waimea College
TBC Garin College
Coastal Nelson College for Girls From 2:30pm the solo-duos will perform, they are:
Lucid Laughs Waimea College, Nayland College
Aidan Brown Marlborough Boys’ College
Before Fox Motueka High School Brooklyn Scott Garin College
Jess and Tagan Motueka High School
followed by the Smokefreerockquest national final on Saturday September 2.