CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2004: 12 Quest For Title

MEDIA RELEASE

September 6, 2004

TOP 12 QUEST FOR TITLE

They've been judged the best 12 emerging bands in New Zealand, rising through the ranks of competition against a record 649 bands who entered the CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2004...

CokeSmokefreeRockquest today announced the 12 semi-finalists who will perform at one of two semi-finals on September 11 and 12 in Auckland and Wellington respectively.

"It's starting to sound like a cliché now," says Rockquest Promotions founder and director Glenn Common, "But every year we are amazed at the level of talent coming through in these bands. This - which is the 17th year of the CokeSmokefreeRockquest - has been no exception, made even harder by the record number of entries we've had from around the country."

The CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2004 semi-finalists are:

VENUE: The TOP OF THE POPS STUDIO, Cnr Mayoral Drive & Queen St, Auckland Central
TIME: 3PM
DATE: Saturday September 11

* OUTATUNE Kaitaia College (Northland)

* KIMBRA (soloist) Hillcrest High School (Waikato)

* INCURSA Saint Peter's College (Auckland)

* 4 PETESAKE Whakatane High School (Bay of Plenty)

Performing at the Victoria University Student Union Hall in Wellington from 12pm on Sunday September 12

* MAGNUM OPUS Athena Montessori College (Wellington)

* 2+1 Wanganui High School (Wanganui)

* RIVAL STATE New Plymouth Boys' High School (Taranaki)

* ELEMENT Aranui College (Canterbury)

* THE HENDERSON EXPERIENCE Wellington College (Wellington)

* PETE'S BEATS Waiopehu College (Manawatu)

* SLOW DANCE St Patrick's College (Hutt Valley)

* THE NEW TRENDS Taradale High School (Hawkes Bay)

Only six national finalist bands will make it to the national final CokeSmokefreeRockquest 2004 on October 8 at Auckland's Bruce Mason Theatre.

They will be announced in late September, following a judging session of recorded semi-final footage at the York Street Studio in Auckland involving industry representatives.

The members of each national finalist band receive travel to Auckland and accommodation from Rockquest Promotions to a total value of $8,000.

Sam McCarthy from the band Incursa says; "Being part of the CokeSmokefreeRockquest is so amazing. We are really rapt to have made it the semi-finals, especially because last year we only made it to the regional final. Coco-Cola gives young musicians an opportunity to get on stage and get some hands-on experience at being a rock star. We have put in a lot of hard work and practice and to finally get on stage is just so exciting and so much fun!"

The semi-finalists and the top two bands from each of the 21 regional finals have been involved in the New Zealand Music Industry Commission (New Zealand MIC) and Ministry of Education band partnering initiative that aligns CokeSmokefreeRockquest contenders with like minded professionals for performance mentoring and workshops.

Mentor bands this year have included Auckland pop-punk group GOODNIGHT NURSE; Wellington rock band AUTOZAMM; 2003 CokeSmokefreeRockquest winners, Christchurch indie-rockers FALTER and internationally acclaimed singer Anika Moa.

THE NATIONAL WINNERS

The national winners will win the Edge Airplay Award (in association with New Zealand on Air), which includes a single recorded and produced to release quality at York Street Studios in Auckland; a music video; a radio release on the Edge and inclusion on a New Zealand on Air Hit Disk.

Also included are travel costs and full support and plugging from the New Zealand on Air team!

The national winners also receive vouchers to the value of $10,000 supplied by The New Zealand Rockshop, Direct Imports New Zealand Ltd, The Electric Factory Ltd and Roland, Boss, Fender, Zildjian, Tascam, Mapex, V.S., Edirol, Jackson, dB Technologies, and Marshall branded equipment.

SECOND PLACE WINNERS

The second place winners at the national final receive vouchers to the value of $5,000 (incl GST) supplied by The New Zealand Rockshops and their suppliers, Roland, Boss, Fender, Zildjian, Tascam, Mapex, V.S., Edirol, Jackson, dB Technologies, and Marshall plus two songs recorded and released on the Cokesmokefreerockquest websites.

THIRD PLACE WINNERS

The third place winners at the national final receive $3,000 (incl GST) worth of vouchers from The New Zealand Rockshops and their suppliers, Roland, Boss, Fender, Zildjian, Tascam, Mapex, V.S., Edirol, Jackson, dB Technologies, and Marshall plus two songs recorded and released on the CokeSmokefreeRockquest websites.

Other prizes announced on the night include...

* The Lyric Award - $500 Cash

* The Smokefree Best Vocals Award - $1000 Cash The Smokefree Award for Women's Musicianship - $1000 Cash The MAINZ Scholarship at $4225 value

* The Cokefridge Stage Image Award - $500

* The Cokefridge Original Song Award - $500

ENDS

Issued for and on behalf of Coca-Cola Oceania Ltd by Publicis Drum

"Coca-Cola" and "Coke" are registered trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company.

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