Rockquest hopefuls have a blast

Havelock North band Super Cone Destroyer won the Hawke's Bay finals last year.

Competition keen as 12 acts advance to regional final

THERE was fiery competition at the Smokefreerockquest heats on Sunday.

Nerves and excitement were high as aspiring young musicians played their hearts out in the Hawke's Bay heats at Napier Boys' High School.

Judges whittled the competition down to 12 top bands and solo-duo acts who will advance to a regional final this month.

More than 650 acts from throughout the country are set to compete in these heats and finals spanning 24 towns from Invercargill to Kaitaia.

While Smokefreerockquest is a competition, the first round is about participation, support and finding hidden talent.

In its 27-year history the live event, which aims to promote original music, has spawned international success stories such as Broods, Kimbra, Aaradhna, Opshop, Ladyhawke, Joel Little, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Kora, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga, and The Naked and Famous.

"Some entrants will no doubt go on to success in the Kiwi music industry, but for most of the young musicians SFRQ is all about the experience of performing live on stage in a professional set up," founder and director Glenn Common said.

"Meeting others who share their passion for performing music, getting constructive and impartial feedback from more experienced musicians who are our judges and mentors."

Locally, there was an overload of outstanding performers in the solo/duo category, with a total of 15 entries.

"Because they were varied and of a strong overall standard judges decided to let four through to the regional final, rather than the usual two," Common said.

"These four will play off for first and second place and a chance in the judging pool for the national final."

Two of the successful acts hailed from Napier Girls' High School - Teia Drysdale and Madimac; Mia from Taradale High School and Arran Cargill-Brown of Havelock North High School round out the solo/duo section.

They will go head-to-head with 10 other Bay bands selected at the weekend.

The regional final takes place at Napier Municipal Theatre on Saturday, May 23 from 7pm. Two will be chosen to enter a national finalists' judging pool.

New Zealand champions will win a prize package including $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, a $20,000 NZ On Air recording allowance; video and promo; "Decent Exposure" campaign on FOUR; photoshoot with Thievery Studio; branding package from Imaginary Friends and a seven-day trip to Fiji.

There is also a MAINZ (Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand) Scholarship for Outstanding Musicianship, APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, Lowdown Best Song Award, Smokefree Women's Musicianship Award and the People's Choice text vote.

Top 10 bands

The top 10 bands to play off at the regional final are:
• Emphasis(Napier Girls' High)
• l4 (Flaxmere College)
• Vertigo(Napier Boys' High)
• Critical Theory(Napier Boys' High)
• Sync (Flaxmere College)
• Sinister Bliss(Napier Girls' High and William Colenso College)
• Regal in Black(Napier Girls' High)
• High Voltage(Flaxmere College)
• Skivvy(Napier Girls' High)
• Headlock(Havelock North High) Competition

Tickets to the regional final at Napier Municipal Theatre are $10 school students and $20 adults from Ticketek or at the door. For more information see: sfrq.co.nz or facebook.com/thesfrq.