Te Hakaraia o te rangi Wilson, Te Tauhu o Maui Kingi and Arapeta Anahera Paea want to win Smokefree Pacifica Beats this year. Photo / Stephen Parker
Te Hakaraia o te rangi Wilson, Te Tauhu o Maui Kingi and Arapeta Anahera Paea want to win Smokefree Pacifica Beats this year. Photo / Stephen Parker
Young musos with a Maori or Pacifica background have the chance to shine at the Rotorua Smokefree Pacifica Beats 2015.
Thirteen bands and soloists from the Bay of Plenty will compete for music glory at the event tomorrow, which offers students a platform for a live performance.
A Rotorua Boys'High School acoustic trio, who are yet to finalise their name, is made up of some of the students who won the regional round last year, and went on to be runners up in the nationals as a full band.
Year 13 student and lead vocalist Te Hakaraia o te rangi Wilson said the band wanted to win this year.
"It will be good to redeem ourselves. Last year we made some mistakes in harmonies, just little things, it wasn't tidy enough. We had a big talk with the judges afterwards who gave us some things to work on."
"Students enter Smokefree Pacifica Beats for all sorts of reasons - some are focussed on a career in music, some are in it just for fun but for many it is the journey more than the outcome or prizes that attracts them.
"By working in groups and performing on a professional stage they learn a lot about themselves, the music industry, their own skills and they gain so much confidence."
Rotorua band Open Arms, who came second in the national final last year, will be the special guest band, performing while judges make their decision. Local singer Stella Maris will MC the event.
The top two bands and the top solo/duos will go on to submit video footage and complete social media tasks to be selected as national finalists.
The national winners' prize package includes $3000 worth of music gear a $10,000 song and video package from NZ On Air and performance spots.
Details What: Smokefree Pacifica Beats Rotorua Regional Finals. When: 2pm tomorrow. Where: Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre. How much: Free.
