20 August 2012 - 0 Comments
They’ve played off from Whangarei’s Forum North to Invercargill’s Civic Theatre and now the top 20 teen bands in the country have been selected in the lead up to the finals of Smokefreerockquest 2012.
Founder and Director GlennCommon says from almost 700 entrants this year, more bands and soloists reached the standard looked for in finalists than ever before.
“There are more bands reaching that higher level – they are presenting themselves more professionally and they have more than just the two songs that they need to compete at the regionals,” he said. “They are really getting to grips with song writing and producing original music of a standard that has the potential to take them into the music industry.”
Glenn notes that duos weremore to the fore this year, possibly because this format lends itself to Facebook and Youtube success. And he says the subject matter for songs ranged from the personal and romantic through to the issues driven and politically aware.
The Top 20 Bands are listed with their school and their regional final placing (note Auckland Central and Canterbury had 2 regional finals); or that they were selected via Rockshop Second Chance, an opportunity for established (regularly gigging) bands who felt they didn’t do their best on the night and were able to send in a video for judging.
Luke And Amberly, Kamo High School, 1st Northland regional final
Scamp And Yeah, Rangitoto College, North Shore, Rockshop 2nd Chance
The Great Moon Hoax, Rangitoto College, 1st North Shore regional final
Young And Reckless, SacredHeart College, 1st Auckland Central regional final (1)
The Teleprompters, St. Peter’s College, 1st Auckland Central regional final (2)
Vivid, Diocesan School ForGirls, 2nd Auckland Central regional final
Indi, ACG Senior College, Auckland Central, Rockshop 2nd Chance
Intone, Glendowie College,Auckland Central, Rockshop 2nd Chance
Eden, Western Springs College, Auckland Central, Rockshop 2nd Chance
Sunday Best, St. Peter’s School, 1st Waikato regional final
Noriac, Francis Douglas Memorial College, 1st Taranaki regional final
Aftershock, Western Heights High School & John Paul 2 College, Rotorua, Rockshop 2nd Chance
A Bit Nigel, Taupo-Nui-A-Tia College, 1st Rotorua regional final
Culture Kids, Wanganui High School & Wanganui City College, Rockshop 2nd Chance
Back To The Remedy, Wairarapa College, 1st Wairarapa regional final
Front Back And Sides, Wairarapa College, 2nd Wairarapa regional final
New Vinyl, Nelson College, 1st regional final
Mirum, Christchurch Boys’ High School, Christchurch Adventist School, Cashmere High School, 1st Canterbury regional final
Half Mountain, Unimited Paenga Tawhiti & Hagley Community College, 1st Canterbury regional final (2)
The Fletcherz, Wakatipu High School, 2nd Central Otago regional final
These bands will now be judged on their submitted DVDs by representatives from SFRQ, NZ on Air and from the music industry, with the top eight national finalists announced next week (August 22).
The top eight will play off in this year’s Smokefreerockquest national final at Founders Theatre in Hamilton on 22 September; along with guests Zowie and The Jury and the Saints. Tickets are $10, doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.
There’s a helping hand for those who can’t afford the trip to Hamilton or the $10 dollar ticket, with a contest being run at www.Facebook.com/thesrfq. Entrants vote for their favourtie ex-Smokefreerockquest competitor from names such as Kimbra, Brooke Fraser and OpShop to win flights, accommodation and VIP tickets.
Smokefreerockquest powered by Rockshop, has a prize package that includes musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshopsand their suppliers, a NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth over $10,000, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, a radio promotional support for a single, and video play on youth music channel FOUR. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award and the Skinny People’s Choice, voted by text, that will give one band the opportunity to open at the SFRQ National final.
To find out more about Smokefreerockquest 2012, visit the official website sfrq.co.nz.
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