Music News - Wanganui Group Take Rockquest
The Have collect their Rockquest award
16 October 2002 - 0 Comments
Rockquest 2002 has thrown a new group of eager musicians into the spotlight: Wanganui's The Have.
Six hundred bands entered this year, competing for a top prize of $10,000 worth of equipment, the production of a music video, and the chance to record three songs at Auckland's York Street Studios.
Pete Rainey, co-founder and organiser of the event, said: "The [contest] is in its 15th year now and it's fantastic to be able to bring the level of talent in this year's national final back to the home of the first Rockquest event, held in Christchurch in 1988."
The final six acts were joined by Anika Moa, Clowndog, Steriogram, Nesian Mystik, and Christchurch's Degrees K - all Rockquest veterans.
The Have's brand of freewheeling rock and ability to work an unfamiliar audience made it a hard act to beat. The group was named national winner and also picked up the Coke Anthem award for their song 'Life Tastes Good', to be recorded and played on radio over summer. The Wanganui four-piece guitar band looked like seasoned campaigners decked out in ripped jeans and op-shop leather jackets.
The Have was one of two bands from Wanganui High School. Fellow Wanganui band The Beatniks Foundation was first out with a clever blend of rock, ska guitar, and catchy lyrics. Its performance of 'Bleed' won the award for best original song.
Christchurch band Phoenics Rising, the only South Island act to make it to the finals, had the advantage of a vocal home crowd. Mairehau High School students Ben Malone, Richard Orr and Simon Hughes placed second, winning $5000 for equipment and the chance to record two songs in Christchurch.
Westlake Girls' High School student Jesse Cassin, the only solo artist in the finals, collected the Women's Musicianship award and third place, proving Rockquest has the ability to throw up excellent female singer/songwriters.
The judges for this year’s event were Camille Guzwell and Dave Ridler (New Zealand on Air), Cath Anderson (the New Zealand Music Industry Commission), top New Zealand music producer Malcolm Wellsford, Willy Mc Allister (music director for The Edge radio network) and Glenn Common, co-founder and co-director of Rockquest Promotions.
Other awards handed out on the night were:
- The Coke Stage Image Award ($500 cash) Auckland’s Mission Gizzard
- The Coke Original Music Award ($500 cash) Wanganui band The Beatniks Foundation;
- The Smokefree Best Vocals Award ($1,000 cash) Jesse Cassin, from Auckland’s North shore
- Womens musicianship award: ($1,000 cash) Jesse Cassin
A $3,000 scholarship for tertiary music course studies was the prize for the Contempo Musicianship Award and was won by Steven Gibb of Waihi band, Lint.
The Have will have three of their songs recorded and produced at York Street Studios in Auckland, the first single is gurunteed 50 plays on the Edge radio network
The band also received vouchers to the value of $10,000 supplied by the New Zealand Rockshops and their suppliers. New Zealand on Air will provide additional funding for a top producer and video production.
Phoenics Rising and Jesse Cassin were also awarded New Zealand Rockshop vouchers to the value of $5,000 and $3,000 respectively and will have two songs recorded and produced at local recording studios.
If you didn’t get to experience the magic live … don’t worry because you can see the whole thing on TV2 later this year
muzic.net.nz would like to congratulate all winners!
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