David Bain Jersseys Aid Rockquest Success

David Bain Jersseys Aid Rockquest Success

Two Wairarapa seventh formers say a trip to Savemart to buy ‘David Bain’ jerseys helped them to win their regional Smokefreerockquest final on Friday night at the Masterton Town Hall.
 
First place in the regional final of the nationwide youth music competition went to Knights of Columbus from Wairarapa College, made up of Jesse Trotman and Liam Macklin. Jesse says they’ve entered every year since the third form, coming third three times in the four piece band Foetal Position, and winning best song last year as a duo. The alt rock duo splits the drum kit so they both play drums and sing, and Liam also plays guitar.
 
“As a duo we stood out from the other bands and we went to Save Mart today and got ‘David Bain’ jerseys so that helped get us noticed,” Jesse said. “We had good support from the Wai Coll crowd who were chanting ‘Knights’.”
 
Second place went to Before the Dawn from Dannevirke High School.
 
These two bands win musical gear from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers and go on to compete for one of the six finalist spots in this year’s Smokefreerockquest. They’re joined by Not for the faint hearted from Masterton Intermediate who won the Smokefree People’s Choice, selected by text vote at the event.
 
Rockquest Promotions Founders and Directors Glenn Common and Pete Rainey said it was now up to the Wairarapa finalists to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.
 
“The process from here on will sort out those who have the creativity and the commitment,” Rainey said. “The six bands to play off at the national final in September are chosen from DVDs of their own music. They have to work together as a group on their DVD and develop the skills that will help turn their talent into success.”
 
The six national finalists will be selected from a pool of around 60 DVDs, made up of first and second place-getters from each of 26 regional finals, plus the Smokefree People’s Choice winner and bands from Rockshop Second Chance, which is an opening for established bands who feel they didn’t play at their best on the night.
 
In term three Smokefreerockquest and the NZ Music Commission, with funding from the Ministry of Education, will partner the regional winner with a mentor band - a band that is some years ahead and has first hand knowledge of the industry.
 
This year’s national final is at the Power Station in Auckland on Saturday September 19, 8pm start.
 
Prizes at stake include musical equipment from NZ Rockshop to the value of $10,000, and The Edge Airplay Award with NZ On Air where the winning band’s music and video are recorded at York Street Studios with guaranteed airplay, and a promotional package from myspace.com. Other awards reinforce the key Smokefreerockquest aim of encouraging students to write and perform their own music. Individual prizes are awarded for best lyrics, women’s musicianship, the best song and a scholarship to the Tai Poutini contemporary music course is awarded for musicianship.
 
The other Wairarapa awards on Friday night went to:
 
Third place winning musical gear from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers: Overlord, from Wairarapa College & Makoura College.
 
The Mainz Musicianship Award with the opportunity to be selected for the $4500 Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship, announced at the national finals: Jordan Gray, the drummer from Before the Dawn.
 
The APRA Lyric Writer’s Award judged from lyrics submitted at the heats: Sam Keall, 5150 from Tararua College for his song Try having fun.
 
Smokefree award for women’s musicianship with a prize of $150; Esther Crispin, Wairarapa College.
 
The Lowdown Best Song Award, winning $100 cash: Sam Tanner, Chanel College.
 
 
ENDS
 

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