SMOKEFREEROCKQUEST 2018 – Auckland, North Shore and Solo-Duo

The Dorothy Winstone Centre at Auckland Girls’ Grammar will be pumping next weekend (jun 8-10) as the top youth bands and solo-duos play off in the regional finals of Smokefreerockquest 2018.

The top bands to play off for Auckland and North Shore were selected at heats held in early May and the solo-duos entered in this region have their own separate event (details below).

Smokefreerockquest founder and director Glenn Common says Smokefreerockquest offers the entrants on Friday night a platform for live performance that builds on what they have learnt at school.

“The support that contemporary musicians get in schools these days and the framework provided by NCEA is evident in the number of young musicians that get to performance standard,” he said. “Secondary school teachers offer tuition and encouragement, create space for bands and soloists to practise, they come along to support them at Smokefreerockquest and help them to get the most value from the experience of entering SFRQ – before, during and after.”

He said the professional performance environment offered by SFRQ included a stage set up with lights, sound, projection and technical support in a show that includes a guest band, MC and lots of giveaways.

SFRQ founder and director Pete Rainey said in regional cities the Smokefreerockquest final is often the year’s biggest youth gig and ‘a major influencer’.

“We’re really proud that our association with Smokefree has been part of a huge social change in New Zealand over the past 28 years. It’s absolutely a real thing that the number of young kids smoking has dropped and we’re right behind the idea of making NZ Smokefree by 2025.”

Those competing to join the ranks of Kiwi music success at the North Shore regional final on Friday night are:
Barracuda Swim School Whangaparaoa College Green Bay High School

denon Kaipara College

Equilibrium Rangitoto College

Goat Waitakere College

Husk Glenfield Intermediate Glenfield College Rototuna Junior High School & Saint Kentigern Boys' School

No Attention Span Kaipara College

Strattera Hobsonville Point Secondary School

SideTracked Westlake Boys' High School

Mini Reptile Club Birkenhead College

Special Ed. Westlake Boys' High School

Ultrasound Long Bay College Rangitoto College

It’s Strange Massey High School

On Saturday night regional finalists from Auckland central play off, they are:
Alex and Michaela Epsom Girls Grammar School

Amy Carol Green Bay High School

Atticus may Sacred Heart College (Auckland)

Bad Dog Avondale College

Ben and Jimmy Green Bay High School

Dysfunctional Henderson High School

Eclecticy Auckland Grammar

Feijoa Funk Diocesan School For Girls

Flimsy Cliffs ACG Senior College

Fusion Marcellin College

Goldilocks Western Springs College

Gracie Scragg Diocesan School For Girls

ItReallyBeLikeThat Auckland Grammar

meds and troy Kaipara College

Meraki Massey High School

Minutes to Monday Selwyn College

Missing Kings College

Moon children ACG Sunderland

PASS Band Pacific Advance Senior School

Both these events are at the Dorothy Winstone Centre, start time 7pm, tickets $10 for school students and $20 for adults from Ticket Direct or at the door.

On Sunday the Auckland region’s 74 solo-duo entrant compete for eight finalist places. This event is run in two parts, starting at 11am, and again at 4pm. Tickets at the door, $10 adults and children under 5 free.

The top two bands from Auckland and North Shore, plus the top eight solo-duos will submit video footage to be selected as national finalists to play off on September 22, back at the Dorothy Winstone Centre. Still to come in Auckland is the Manukau final on Friday June 15 ;and the Smokefree Tangata Beats heats (June 16) and final (June 23) all at AGGS.

The live events run from May 5 until July 6, and most regions will also be filmed for the hugely popular webisodes (smokefreerockquest.co.nz/video/) fronted this year by NZ’s ‘First Bloke’ Clarke Gayford.

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.

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