The boys from Dub CC are one step away from making the national final of the Smokefreerockquest after winning the regional final in Wanganui on Saturday.
This is not unfamiliar territory for this reggae band, having won the regional final last year, too. But the six-piece never got selected as one of the six national finalists.
This year, guitarist Hamuera Waitokia Taniwha reckons they have a better chance.
"That's why we're stoked we won it this year as well," he told the Chronicle yesterday. "It's a big step for us but hopefully we can get there."
There was no practice for the band yesterday. Hamuera said they were just going to rest up after celebrating their win.
The City College band includes lead singer Nai McGregor along with Hamuera , Jesse Taupa'u, Jeremiah Peipi, Daniel Peipi and Cain Brider.
McGregor said the Dub CC members had been playing together for a year and really enjoyed their music. All are Year 12 students at the college, except Daniel who is in Year 9.
McGregor put their win down to strong songs and their stage presence.
He also won the Lowdown best song award.
Judge James Gibbs said the band presented two well-structured songs in the final at the Royal Wanganui Opera House.
"They were a very tight and solid band. They played together very well, taking control of the crowd and holding them till the end of the songs, which they performed really well," Mr Gibbs said.
Dub CC and second-placed Red Velvet Cheesecake from Wanganui High School, will now go forward to compete for one of six national finalist spots in this year's Smokefreerockquest.
Red Velvet Cheesecake also won the Smokefree People's Choice voted for by text on Saturday, while the band's lead vocalist and keyboardist Katelyn Brown won the award for women's musicianship.
Both bands also won musical gear from NZ Rockshops.
Glenn Common, Rockquest Promotions founder, said from here on the Wanganui finalists would have to work hard and draw on their creativity to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.
"The bands to play off at the national final in September are chosen from DVDs Wanganui reggae band makes it two in a row
of their own music," Mr Common said.
"This means they'll need to work together as a group and develop the skills that will turn their talent into success."
The six national finalists will be selected from a pool made up of first and second placegetters from each of the 25 regional finals, and bands from Rockshop Second Chance, an opportunity for established bands who feel they didn't play at their best on the night.
The national final will be in the Claudelands Arena in Hamilton on September 17 and the winner's purse is impressive. It includes a NZ On Air recording and music video grant worth $10,000, musical gear to the value of $10,000, studio recording time and radio and TV play of a single.
Saturday's regional final involved 14 bands performing in the afternoon, with eight called back for the evening final. As well as the eventual first and second-placed bands, other finalists were third-placed Beggars Can't Be Choosers (Wanganui High School), Sound of Silence (City College), Me Myself and I (Taumarunui High School), Mayday (Dannevirke High School), Natural Mystic (City College) and Philliney (Taumarunui High School).
Andrew Condon, lead guitarist for Sound Of Silence, was named to go forward to the national final of the Mainz Musicianship Award with the chance to be selected for the $4500 Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship,
The APRA Lyric Writer's Award, judged from lyrics submitted at the afternoon playoff was won by Jordan Gowan from the Dannevirke High School band Mayday.
In its 23 years the Smokefreerockquest has uncovered talent such as Opshop, Ladyhawke, Midnight Youth, Brooke Fraser, the Datsuns, Anika Moa, The Feelers, The Black Seeds, Nesian Mystik, Bic Runga and Elemeno P.
For more pictures from this event, turn to Page 8
Smokefreerockquest: Reggae band makes it two in a row
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.