18 August 2010 - 0 Comments

The search for New Zealand's next big musical find narrowed today as Smokefreerockquest announced the top eight bands to play off the national final at Hamilton's Founders Theatre on September 11. The nationwide contest this year had 3000 entrants, 23 regional finals, a record 800 bands, with the eight finalists covering a range of musical genres and a regional spread across New Zealand.

THE EIGHT FINALISTS

Two Waikato bands feature in the top eight - they are Dinosaur Goes Rawr (DGR) and The Good Fun. They'll play off for the national title against Custard Bear from Canterbury, The Peasants of Eden from Nelson, Te Paamu from Otaki, two Auckland singer songwriters, Kriston Batistich and Massad Barakat-Devine, and Bay of Plenty four piece Malcolm Jack.

THE SHORTLIST OF THE TOP 22

The eight finalists were selected from a short list of 22 bands that director Glenn Common says had all reached a very high standard. The others on shortlist were: A New Era - Bay of Plenty; Chelsey ­ Otaki; Convicted Spacemen ­ Manawatu; DikDarCity - Hawkes Bay; Holy Shark ­ Northland; Jayme Fitzgerald ­ Rotorua; Jordan Skipper ­ Marlborough; Peachebones ­ Canterbury; Saturday Sessions - East Auckland; The Guest ­ Canterbury; The Velvet Regime ­ Wellington; Vice Versa ­ Wanganui; Mercury Brigade ­ Wanaka; Back to the Remedy from Wairarapa.

The judges agreed the quality of the finalists was 'awesome'.

"The quality of music in this competition just keeps getting better and better and I can't wait to see some of these acts on tour," said OpShop drummer Bobby Kennedy.

And Tania Deans from NZ on Air said the final eight made another great line up for 2010: "It is going to be a great night in Hamilton - I am very excited about seeing these bands live."

September 11 is set to be a very big night for Hamilton with guest stars at the final confirmed as chart topping R&B singer J Williams, Auckland new wave music duo Kids of 88 and Dunedin based indie rockers Die! Die! Die!.

Members of Kids of 88 were part of Incursa which won Smokefreerockquest in 2004, while Die! Die! Die! had members in the 2001 winning band, Carriage H.

This is the first of three years that Smokefreerockquest national final will be held in Hamilton, this year at the Founders Theatre and from 2011 at Claudelands, New Zealand's newest purpose-built 5000-seat music arena.

Hamilton sponsorship and events marketing executive Karen Watkins says each year Hamilton comes even more into its own as a youthful and dynamic city:

"This is an iconic event that has been turning out kiwi music legends for the past 20 years - we are thrilled to be hosting it in the city for the next three years, and even more thrilled to have two of our own taking the stage in this first year."

Mrs Watkins says to celebrate, Hamilton has something special in store for fans, who are advised to 'keep their eyes peeled next week on our HamiltonNZ facebook page'.

Prizes for the national winner this year include a NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth $10,000, musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshops, recording time at York St Studio, radio promotional support for a single, the Edge airplay award with the opportunity to be played on The Edge, video play on youth music channel C4, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, a photo shoot sponsored by Schick and a promotional package from Myspace New Zealand. There is also the Mainz Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, The Apra Lyric Award, Lowdown Best Song Award and the Smokefree Women's Musicianship Award.

"If the national winner makes the most of the opportunity there is almost certain success in the Kiwi music industry," Smokefreerockquest director Glenn Common said. "You just have to look at our track record to see the influence the event has."

Tickets to the national final are available from Ticketek or $20 at the door, and the start time is 7pm.

Thanks to www.sfrq.co.nz for this story.

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