Smokefreerockquest Waikato heats on Sunday May 27

Smokefreerockquest gets underway in Waikato next weekend.

For entrants in the nationwide high school music competition, finding a name is often first among their many challenges. Bring Me The Giant and Legal Issues feature among the bands to play off at the Clarence St Theatre on Sunday. (details below).

This year an expected 3000 young people will go through regional heats and finals in 24 towns from Invercargill to Whangarei as they compete in Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats (formerly Pacifica Beats) which showcases Pacifica and Maori culture in a contemporary music setting.

Founder and Director Glenn Common says over the past 30 years there has been tremendous support from schools, who value the framework these events create for their students to strive for success, express themselves and gain NCEA credits.

“This is often mentioned as the motivator that keeps kids engaged in the school system. Teachers can see the benefits that being in a band brings - kids learn to cooperate, to negotiate around their differences, to express their thoughts and emotions in words, to front up on time, to promote themselves and their ideals. And performing live on stage is a great boost in confidence – it requires a lot of skills that are not just musical.”

SFRQ founder & director Pete Rainey says Smokefree has been supporting young Kiwis to showcase their music almost from day one of the 30 year old competition , and is closely aligned with the events.

“We all want to encourage kids to look after themselves and their mates by engaging with music and the benefits that brings,” he said. “It’s great to stage events that recognise that today’s musicians and artists will play a huge role in shaping New Zealand’s future - with the goal of Smokefree 2025.”

The Waikato Heats of Smokefreerockquest are being held at Clarence Street Theatre, on Sunday May 27, start time 12pm.

Tickets $10 at the door, no charge for children 5yrs and under.

12pm Session – Solo/Duos:

Hunter-Rose Sacred Heart Girls' College

Natassja Kelly Medina Hamilton Girls' High School

Letitia Mackenzie Hauraki Plains College

Cailyn Eccles Hillcrest High School

Esther Colman Mercury Bay Area School

Naamah Cheiban Hauraki Plains College

Juliette Lidgard Mercury Bay Area School

Sinaea Hillcrest High School

Merehia Williams- Hutchins Fraser High School

Julienne Poster Sacred Heart Girls' College

Grace Allison-Witt Hauraki Plains College

Alice Lidgard-Robinson Mercury Bay Area School

Genoveva Reverte Thames High School

Kaleesha Hamilton Girls' High School

Nur Peach Thames High School

Niamh Athy Waikato Diocesan School For Girls

There were two, but now there's just me. Hauraki Plains Coll

Bangers 'n Mash Whangamata Area School

Well Worn Souls St John's College

Noah Hamilton Boys’ High School

1:30pm Session – Bands:

Cinematic Hamilton Girls' High School

Pink Tea Morrinsville College

Stinking Bishop St Peter's School

Betend Rocket Cambridge High School

Undecided Hauraki Plains College

MACTAN Te Kauwhata College

Static Hillcrest High School

Ignite Cambridge HS & Hamilton Christian School

Pacific Meadow St Paul's Collegiate

No Restrictions Hauraki Plains College

MI7 Morrinsville Int Morrinsville Coll

Typical Image Hillcrest HS, St John's Coll & Sacred Heart Girls' Coll,

Artificial Intelligence St Peter's School

Bring Me The Giant Hamilton Christian School

TWOM Te Wharekura o Manaia

5 Girls & it Hauraki Plains College

Metro Avenue Hamilton Boys' HS, Fraser HS, Hamilton Girls' HS

Legal Issues Mercury Bay Area School

Drum Socks Hamilton Boys' High School

Drummer By Tuesday Hamilton Boys' High School & Michael Park School

Suggested Serving Size Te Awamutu College

Flare Hauraki Plains College

casper Hamilton BHS, St Peter's School

Let’s Not Pretend St Peter's School

Bassless Hauraki Plains College

Clearasil Hamilton Boys' High School

State of Panic Hauraki Plains College

Jubilation Mercury Bay Area School

Overdrive Hillcrest High School

5pm Session – Smokefree Tangata Beats:

Merehia Williams- Hutchins Fraser High School

Cece & Piper Hauraki Plains College

Sophie and Sinaea Hillcrest High School

Metro Avenue HBHS, Fraser HS, HGHS

Fairfield College Singers Fairfield College

First and second in the solo/duo and the winner of the Tangata Beats award will be named at the heats, and the top 12 bands will be selected to play off at the Waikato final at Zeal on Saturday June 16, start time 7pm, tickets $10 for school students and $20 for adults from Eventfinda or at the door.

Changes this year include senior students being able to play two songs at the heats to fulfill their NCEA requirements; and more technology allowed by performers in the solo-duo section.

The live events run from May 5 until July 6, with the top regional bands and solo/duos submitting footage for selection as finalists to play at the Smokefree Tangata Beats national final on Friday September 21 at the Dorothy Winstone Centre in Auckland, followed by the Smokefreerockquest national final on Saturday September 22.

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners that includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, $16,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package, a photo shoot and branding package from Imaginary Friends. There is also the Musicianship Award, the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, Best Song Award, Smokefree Vocals Award, Fatboy Style Award, and the ZM People’s Choice.

Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest over its 30-year history include Broods, Leroy Clampitt, Kimbra, Aaradhna, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Kids of 88, Die!Die!Die!, Joel Little, Tiny Ruins, Marlon Williams, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Chelsea Jade, Nadia Reid, Aldous Harding, Steriogram, Phoenix Foundation, Devilskin, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga, and The Naked and Famous. Smokefree Tangata Beats standout successes include Alien Weaponry, Strangely Arousing Nesian Mystik, the only New Zealand band to ever have ten singles all certified gold or platinum.

Ends

For further information and photos please contact Jacquetta Bell, publicist:
jacq@nelsonmedia.co.nz 03 546 9661 027 249 1206

Or Founder & director Glenn Common 021 744 536

Smokefreerockquest – 30 years of musical success: New Zealand’s nationwide, live, original music, youth event stages over 30 events giving young musicians the opportunity to perform live in a professional setting, in venues from Whangarei to Invercargill. Smokefreerockquest 2018, powered by Rockshop, aims to motivate young musicians to strive for success, to realise the opportunities available in music careers, and to encourage their peers to support original New Zealand music. The founders Glenn Common and Pete Rainey were honoured with the MNZM in 2013, and continue to lead the team that now runs this New Zealand institution. For more information visit www.sfrq.nz

Smokefree Tangata Beats recognises and reflects the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific. Participants must incorporate Te Reo Maori or a Polynesian language, instruments, dance or movement in their performance. The event motivates young musicians to express themselves with cultural relevance, and to encourage their peers to support original Aotearoa Kiwi music. For more information go to www.sftb.nz

Smokefree has been supporting young Kiwis to showcase their passions for music for close to three decades. Thousands of musicians have hit the stage and many have gone onto to do epic things on national and global levels. Being the naming right sponsor of Smokefreerockquest gives another platform to show the benefits of a smokefree lifestyle and how smoking really doesn’t have a place in young people’s bands or their world. Smokefree recognises that today’s musicians and artists will play a huge role in shaping New Zealand’s future as we head towards the goal of Smokefree 2025.

Rockquest Promotions: In 1989 Glenn Common and Pete Rainey picked up a radio station school music contest in Christchurch. The event went nationwide in 1990, and in ’91 Smokefree became the main sponsor. SFRQ founders Glenn and Pete were honoured with the MNZM for Services to Music in 2013, and continue to lead the team that now runs this New Zealand institution, from offices in Nelson and Auckland. From 2018 Rockquest Promotions is also producing the dance and drama event Showquest in ten regions. For more information visit www.showquest.nz

© Scoop Media