Smokefreerockquest 2018 Whanganui final results

Smokefreerockquest 2018 Whanganui final results

The Remnant from Wanganui High School took out first place at this year’s regional Smokefreerockquest final at the Opera House on Saturday night.

Guitarist and vocalist Wiremu Rogan said that the win was a shock to all of The Remnant’s year 10 and 13 members, and being on stage was an experience with an amazing vibe, ‘like a party train going on in my head.”

“It was our first time playing live and we were really outside of our comfort zones playing in front of a big crowd like that,” he said. “We had practiced lots, we were really committed and we all played as a team - our vocals and harmonies were really good. The audience was really supporting us and gave us lots of energy to play our best.”

The other members of The Remnant RnB band are Tokarārangi Poa (vocals, guitar), Cypress Kani-Hurinui (vocals), Josh Waitai (keys), and Chester Nevil (drums).

Second place in the band category went to prog rock band Pantheon from Wanganui High School made up of Dan Goodwin (vocals, keyboard), Kahu Miller (guitar), Daniel Hubers (drums), and Sebastian Alcayaga (bass).

The solo-duo winner for Whanganui was Corby and Tia from Rangitikei College. The duo is made up of Tia Wright (vocals, guitar), and Te Kopiona Ratana (guitar).

Second place went to Maia (Maia Falkner) from Wanganui High School.

These four acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and join each other in the opportunity to gain selection for the national final in September. The Remnant also won the Tangata Beats Award and go into the selection process for the national finals of that event.

Smokefreerockquest Founder and director Glenn Common says there are more bands than ever before reaching the high standard required from national finalists.

“This means that real dedication is required to achieve the ‘stand out quality’ that the judges will be looking for,” he said. “They have to capture 15 minutes of their original material on video for selection as national finalists. It’s a process that demands creativity and musical ability, being able to work together as a group and having good organisational skills. What separates them out is perseverance – industry success seldom happens overnight.”

The top regional bands and solo/duos submit footage for selection as finalists to play off at the Smokefreerockquest national final on Saturday September 22 at the Dorothy Winstone Centre in Auckland, preceded by the Smokefree Tangata Beats national final on Friday September 21.

The full list of awards for Whanganui is:
Band 1: The Remnant, Wanganui High School
Band 2: Pantheon, Wanganui High School
Band 3: 3 White Guys and Caleb, Wanganui High School
Solo/Duo 1: Corby and Tia, Rangitikei College
Solo/Duo 2: Maia, Wanganui High School
Smokefree Tangata Beats Award: The Remnant, Wanganui High School
ZM People’s Choice: etc, etc… Ruapehu College
Smokefree Best Vocals: The vocalists from The Remnant, Wanganui High School
MAINZ Musicianship: Imogen Maguire from Ferris, Wanganui High School
Best Song: The Zodiacs, Wanganui High School
Fatboy Style Award: Spicy, Wanganui High School
APRA Lyric Writers’ Award: Tori Whibley and Imogen Maguire, Wanganui High School

The live events run from May 5 until July 6, and most regions will also be filmed for the hugely popular SFRQ webisodes (sfrq.nz), 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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