Smokefreerockquest

Smokefreerockquest

Smokefreerockquest 2011 logo
Sponsor Smokefree/Auahi Kore
Country New Zealand
First awarded 1988
Official website smokefreerockquest.co.nz

Smokefreerockquest (SFRQ) is an annual music competition for intermediate and high school bands throughout New Zealand.

The first Rockquest was held in 1988, and was organised by Christchurch radio station C93FM as a local event. The following year, school teachers Glenn Common and Pete Rainey formed Rockquest Promotions and by 1990 had made Rockquest a national event, with five regional finals and a national final. In 1991, Smokefree became a major sponsor, and the name became the Smokefreerockquest.[1] Glenn Common and Pete Rainey now run Rockquest Promotions full-time out of Nelson.[2]

Smokefreerockquest is the only nationwide, live, all original, youth music event. Now into its third decade, the series of 29 events from all over the country, reaches audience numbers in excess of 24,000 every year. Its aim is to motivate young musicians to prove their musical ability and to encourage their peers to support original New Zealand music. Initially bands played covers, but very early in the evolution of the event (and running parallel with the evolution of music in New Zealand) there was a shift to original music.

Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest over its 23-year history include Midnight Youth, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Minuit, Marina Davis, Kids of 88, Die!Die!Die!, Pistol Youth, Bang!Bang!Eche!, Ivy Lies, Cairo Knife Fight, Cut Off Your Hands, Luke Thompson, the Datsuns, Zed, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Anna Coddington, The Electric Confectionaires, Steriogram, Aaradhna, Spacifix, Phoenix Foundation, The Feelers, The Black Seeds, Nesian Mystik, Bic Runga, The Checks, Julia Deans, Pine, King Kapisi, Kingston, The Naked and Famous, Rival State,[3] Autozamm, Kimbra, Elemeno P, Alien Weaponry[4] and Joe's Van[5]

Competition format

The SFRQ consists of around 40 regional competitions across New Zealand with the top regional bands progressing to the national final.

Each region holds both heats and a regional final.[6] Bands have 7 minutes on stage to perform for an audience and panel of judges. Bands that place first or second at their regional event have the opportunity to submit a 15-minute performance video which is judged by a panel of industry professionals. From these video submissions, 6-10 bands are chosen to compete at the national final. At the national final, the competing bands have 8 minutes to perform on stage before the overall winner is announced.[7]

The regional areas are: Northland, North Shore, Auckland Central, Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taranaki, Wanganui, East Coast, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Wairarapa, Wellington, Nelson, Malborough, Canterbury, West Coast, Timaru, Otago and Southland.[6]

Prize package

The overall national winner receives a prizepack which includes the opportunity to record a single at York St Studios in Auckland, musical gear from NZ Rockshops, a New Recording Artist grant and a Music Video Grant funded by NZ On Air and mentoring with a music industry professional. Second and third place getters also receive Rockshop vouchers and the opportunity to record a single.[8] Other awards at regional events includes the Lowdown Best Song Award, APRA Lyric Award, Smokefree People's Choice Award, MAINZ Musicianship Award and Smokefree Women's Musicianship Award.[9]

Past winners

Year Winner School Region
1989 Outer Control Hornby High School Christchurch
1990 De Funk Express Hillmorton High School Christchurch
1991 Auntie Beatrice Whakatane High School Whakatane
1992 Exploding Poppies Waimea College Nelson
1993 Hallucian Selwyn College Auckland
1994 Kate in the Lemon Tree Wanganui Collegiate Wanganui
1995 Dancing Azians Karamu High School Hawkes Bay
1996 Marystaple Aotea College Wellington
1997 Atlas Woods Wairarapa College/Kuranui College Wellington
1998 Handsome Geoffrey Hamilton Girls' High School Waikato
1999 Son of Spank Kapiti College/Tawa College Wellington
2000 Evermore "Twin Oaks School"[note 1] Manawatu
2001 Carriage H Logan Park High School Otago
2002 The Have Wanganui High School Wanganui
2003 Falter Mairehau High School Christchurch
2004 Incursa St Peters College Auckland
2005 The Electric Confectionaires Takapuna Grammar School North Shore
2006 Neil Robinson Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti Christchurch
2007 Solomon Rangitoto College North Shore
2008 Beneath the Silence Cashmere High School/Kaiapoi High School/Rangiora High School Christchurch
2009 Jesse Sheehan Wellington College Wellington
2010 The Good Fun Te Awamutu College & Hamilton Boys' High School Waikato
2011 The Peasants Garin College Nelson
2012 New Vinyl Nelson College Nelson
2013 A Bit Nigel Taupo-nui-a-Tia College & Rotorua Boys' High School Rotorua-Taupo
2014 Head Chef Wellington High School Wellington
2015 Joe's Van Mount Maunganui College Tauranga
  1. Because Evermore were homeschooled, they made up "Twin Oaks School" as their school name. "Smokefree Rockquest – 20 years young". Get the Skinny from Skinny. Get the Skinny from Skinny. Retrieved 19 August 2015.

Post-event successes

2010 winners, The Good Fun.
The Good Fun

See also

References

External links

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