Pacifica beats national finalists

Media Release August 17th 2005

The eight finalists to compete at the national finals of Smokefree Pacifica Beats in Wellington next month have been announced.

Judges spokesperson Anahera Higgins, Producer of TVNZ Mai Time, said she was really pleased with the level of the entrants - and especially with the number of finalists singing in te reo Maori.

'The kids have got it - they realise you can fuse two languages, whether that is te reo and English, Samoan and English, or other Polynesian languages. This competition is also the only vehicle for youth to fuse traditional dance, instruments and stories with contemporary musical forms,' she said. 'Past winners like Bopsical and the Spacifix have illustrated the level bands need to be at for Smokefree Pacifica Beats - the kids have seen that and have lifted their game. We¹re now seeing a distinctly Aotearoa-New Zealand style, rather than copying from overseas.'

The finalists were selected from regional finals held over the past three weeks in Northland, Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington, and from videos sent in from other regions. The eight finalists are:

Asch-Rose Steedman, Whangarei Girls High School
Drum Fusion, Weymouth Intermediate (Auckland)
BELOMERJ, Papatoetoe High School,
Az One, Forest View High School (Tokoroa)
Rhythm & Soul, Gisborne Girls High School
Koast-Line, Wairoa College
1st Nation, Whakatupuranga Rua Mano, Otaki College & Te Wharekura o Te Rito
Tuapae, Aranui High School, Christchurch.

This year's national finals for Smokefree Pacifica Beats will be held in the Wellington Town Hall on Friday September 2nd, 8pm; followed on Saturday September 3rd by the finals of the sister event Smokefreerockquest. First prize for Smokefree Pacifica Beats is $2500 cash, plus the opportunity to have two songs professionally recorded and made available on www.theset.co.nz.

Fri 2 Sept, 8pm National finals, Wellington Town Hall, $10 tickets from Ticketek.

ENDS

About Smokefree Smokefree exists to encourage New Zealanders to adopt and maintain healthy attitudes and lifestyles and is a major supporter of key annual youth events at a national level. Events including Smokefreerockquest, Smokefree Pacifica Beats, Smokefree WOWquest and STRIKE to schools are supported by Smokefree, ensuring that the positive Smokefree message reaches young people in their environment.

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