Smokefreerockquest 2018 Northland final results

Kamo High School band A08 took out first place at this year’s Northland Smokefreerockquest final at Forum North on Friday night.

The groovy-pop group were surprised to win, despite winning the Northland regional top spot last year. Josh Burns (drums) puts their success down how dedicated they are to working as a group, which includes an hour-long practice every school day.

“We listen and we respond both instrumentally and vocally to each other, and that makes us tight and brings us together as one,“ said the 17 year old, “We also had a good fan base turn out tonight, and they were great. We really want to connect with them.”

The other members of A08 are Olivia Sutherland and Maea Shepherd on vocals, Shayla Thomas on keyboard, Adam Roycroft on lead guitar and Regan Edwards on bass.

Second place in the band category went to two-piece Rillet from Broadwood Area School and Te Kura Taumata o Panguru. The rock group is made up of cousins Allen Karena on drums, and John-Alec Grbich on bass. John-Alec also won the MAINZ Musicianship award on the night.

These two acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and join solo-duo winners for Huia Shortland from Te Kapehu Whetu-Teina, and No Credit (Giorgia Davies and Israel Reid) from Kerikeri High School in the opportunity to gain selection for the national final in September.

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.”

And Common encouraged those who didn’t make it through to stick with their music.

“Some bands and soloists will no doubt go on to success in the Kiwi music industry like SFRQ alumnae Kimbra, Marlon Williams and Shapeshifter, but for most of the young musicians SFRQ is about the experience of performing live on stage in a professional set up, meeting others who share their passion for music, and getting constructive and impartial feedback from more experienced musicians who are our judges and mentors.”

The full list of awards for Northland is:

Band 1: A08, Kamo High School

Band 2: Rillet, Broadwood Area School Te Kura Taumata o Panguru

Band 3: Reflecks, Kerikeri High School

Solo/Duo 1: Huia Shortland from Te Kapehu Whetu – Teina

Solo/Duo 2: No Credit (Giorgia Davies and Israel Reid), Kerikeri High School

Smokefree Tangata Beats Award: Harmonies Divergent, Bay of Islands School

ZM People’s Choice: Soup of the Day, Rodney College

Smokefree Best Vocals: Live Wire, Mahurangi College

MAINZ Musicianship: John-Alec Grbich of Rillet, Broadwood Area School

Best Song: The Violet Violets, Bream Bay College

Fatboy Style Award: Ke Lo Ke, Whangarei GHS, Pompallier Catholic School

APRA Lyric Writers’ Award: Maea Sherpard of A08, Kamo High School

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 live events run from May 5 until July 6, and most regions are also being 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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