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Guitars, energy: Smokefreerockquest heats a blast

By Michelle Feary

www.flickr.com
the pulse te auaha's smokefreerockquest 2010 photosetthe pulse te auaha's smokefreerockquest 2010 photoset

Screeching guitars and nervous energy greeted me as I walked into the UCSA Ballroom, venue for the smokefreerockquest (SFRQ) heats on 15 and 16 May. A supportive crowd — made up of of parents and teens — filled the hall, eagerly waiting, like me, to see the talent on offer. We were not disappointed.

If you haven't yet experienced SFRQ, you don't know what you’re missing. Go along to the regional finals on June 11 and 12 and amaze yourself.

I know I will be there.

Regional finalists found

These are the 28 bands that will compete in the two Canterbury regional finals to be held at 7pm on Friday 11 June and Saturday 12 June at the Isaac Theatre Royal. Tickets $15 at Ticketek or $20 at the door.

Friday, 11 June
GiiigglePOP!!! Middleton Grange
Custard Bear Christchurch Boys’ High School
Drown The City Shirley Boys’ High School
K2 Shirley Boys’ High School
Villain Shirley Boys’ High School
Mahalia Simpson Marian College
The Guest Aranui High School
Dawning Papanui High School
Forget Gravity Papanui High School
Hillview in Black Linwood College
Chain Reaction Chisnallwood Intermediate
Le Mouvement Queen Charlotte College
LiveWire Darfield High School
D`Preeshiated Aranui High School

Saturday, 12 June
The Cold Front
Rangiora High School
Midnight in Motion Lincoln High School
eL Cee Dee Lincoln High School
Justice Served Lincoln High School
Tess Stephen Rangiora High School
Discord Rangiora High School
With Legions We Stand Lincoln High School
Crimson Metal Dragon Rudolf Steiner School
TMC St Bede’s College
5thDayOfMay Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti
Runaway Joe Burnside High School
Euphoria Cashmere High School
Rule 42 Christ’s College
Peachebones St Andrew’s College

So what were some of the bands like?

Tess Stephen, Linwood College

Singing a song written for a friend, she set the bar for those that followed. During her introduction she warned the audience “You’ll be blown away” … and with her beautiful voice and fantastic stage presence, I think that some of us were.

Villain, Shirley Boys High School

Decked out in clothes that screamed rock star, these guys certainly looked like a real band. Cue hot drums, electric guitars and a voice years older than the vocalist looked ... Villain were very talented. Playing music I would describe as rock, these guys had an awesome sound. The judges thought they were pretty talented too — Villain have made it through to the Canterbury regional finals.

K2, Shirley Boys High School

K2’s vocalist made this band shine with a voice so rich and deep, I thought for a moment I was at a big venue in town. ‘Come find me’ was the title of their song, and perhaps some recording label will. Through to the regional finals.

Discord, Rangiora High School

‘Discord’ was my favourite band of the day. Think Metallica meets grunge, the boys from Rangiora were an audio delight! Confidence and extreme talent helped these guys give a truly amazing performance.

What happens next?

Throughout May and June heats and finals are held in 25 regions, and from each regional final two bands go forward into the selection pool for the national final to be held this year in Hamilton.

In August eight bands or soloists are selected to go on to the national final, where prizes combine into a big helping hand into the music industry. Prizes include a NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth $10,000, musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshops, recording time at York St Studio, radio promotional support for a single, The Edge airplay award, with the opportunity to be played on The Edge, video play on youth music channel C4, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, a photo shoot sponsored by Schick and a promotional package from Myspace New Zealand.

There is also The MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, The APRA Lyric Award and the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award.

Find out more about Smokefreerockquest 2010 on the official website.

May 2010