Smokefreerockquest 2018 Timaru final results

Five-piece rock band Pseudo Sane from Geraldine High School are determined their third year of winning at the Timaru regional Smokefreerockquest will see them make it to the national final in September.

The Geraldine band won in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Theatre Royal in Timaru on Friday night, and spokesman William Holland says having got into the top 20 for the last two years, they are determined to get to the top eight to play off in Auckland.

“We’ve got variation, musicianship, technicality and our songs bring a lot of power to the stage,” he said. “I worked in some guitar solos this year, Flynn is chaotic on bass and Aria adds some calm…we use everyone’s attributes.”

The full line up of the band is siblings Felix (drums) and Saskia Finlayson-Hood (guitar), Aria Cressy (vocals), Flynn Coskerie (bass) and William Holland (lead guitar and vocals).

Second place went to reggae/dub outfit ALRM from Opihi College, who also won the Fatboy Style Award, and the MAINZ Musicianship Award for their guitar/vocalist Reef Brazendale. The others in the band Allicia Kelly (bass), Matthew Anso (guitar) and Luke Smith (drums).

The solo-duo winner in Timaru was singer-songwriter Megan Calder from Opihi College.

Second place went to acoustic duo CLAWS from Roncalli College, made up of Carl Webber on guitar and lead vocalist Alice Styles. CLAWS also won the APRA Lyric Writers’ Award for their song Dandelion.

These four top acts win musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and have 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.”

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 Timaru is:

Band 1: Pseudo Sane, Geraldine High School

Band 2: ALRM, Opihi College

Band 3: Two n Half, Ashburton College

Solo/Duo 1: Megan Calder, Opihi College

Solo/Duo 2: CLAWS, Roncalli College

ZM People’s Choice: NOKIT, Roncalli College

Smokefree Best Vocals: Jack Bubb, Redwall, Ashburton College

MAINZ Musicianship: Reef Brazendale, ALRM, Opihi College

Best Song: NOKIT, Roncalli College

Fatboy Style Award: ALRM, Opihi College

APRA Lyric Writers’ Award: CLAWS, Roncalli College for Dandelion

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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