Top acts selected for Nelson regional final
It was a sell out crowd at a packed Theatre Royal for Smokefreerockquest on Saturday night as the top 10 bands and two solo/duos were selected to go on to the Nelson regional final next weekend.
Around 700 entries are expected to compete in regional heats and finals in 23 towns from Invercargill to Whangarei between now and July 13. SFRQ Founder and Director Glenn Common said the standard of the bands that played off on Saturday reflected the increasing sophistication that SFRQ organisers have noted in recent years.
"Over the 25 years we have been running Smokefreerockquest there has been a massive sociological shift for young people," he said. "The access they have to music, both the amount and range, is amazing. For us, this has resulted in an eclectic range of genres at any one time, rather than one trend dominating for a short period."
This year there are separate categories for solo/duo acts and bands, and the top two solo/duos for Nelson are: Laura-mae, Nelson College for Girls, and Livvy and Anna, Garin College
The top ten bands to play off at the regional final at the Theatre Royal at 7pm on Friday 17 May are:
Slim Conviction, Garin College and Nayland College
Third Wheel, Nelson College for Girls, Nayland College and Nelson College
The Black Spots, Garin College, Golden Bay High School and Nelson College for Girls
Sermon of the Dammed, Nelson College and Nayland College
Paper City, Nayland College, Garin College and Nelson College
Oh Blok, Garin College
Room To Breathe, Motueka High School and Nelson College
Two Day Crisis, Waimea College
Sustain, Garin College
One Notch Higher, Nelson College for Girls, Nayland College, Nelson College and Broadgreen Intermediate.
At the regional final, first and second place for the solo/duo will be announced, as will the top three placings for bands, and a range of other awards from women’s musicianship to best song. The top two regional bands and solo/duos will then submit videos that go into the judging pool for selection as national finalists.
Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and the solo/duo winners, that include musical gear to a total value of $13,000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, inclusion on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support, and video play on youth music channel FOUR. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award and the Skinny People’s Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the SFRQ National final.