HBHS Success in Regional Smokefreerockquest

Takiri Southon (Year 13) won the regional prize for top musicianship and a chance at a $4,000 scholarship after a superb performance at the Smokefreerockquest at Founders' Theatre in Hamilton last night.  30 HBHS students performed in total, with I and I, Shangzhou, Seas of Conflict and Three Peso Thrills being selected for the national final.    I and I placed second in the Waikato, and Music teacher Adrian Botting was delighted with the high proportion of bands (four out of seven) that are now through to the next phase of the competition.  Smokefreerockquest 2010 was won by The Good Fun (pictured, right) with Leroy Clampitt, HBHS 2010 Captain of Music.

Smokefreerockquest 2011 has just one regional event to go, in Christchurch on August 6 and 7. Since mid May over 800 bands have competed in 27 regional finals. The top six bands will play off at the national final, to be held this year in the new 5000-seat Claudelands Arena in Hamilton on 17 September.

The six national finalists will be selected from a pool made up of first and second place-getters from each of the 27 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. Last year’s record of 800 entrants has already been exceeded, with more entries to come as Christchurch bands have been given an extended deadline.

In term three, Smokefreerockquest and the NZ Music Commission, with funding from the Ministry of Education, will partner the regional winner with a mentor band - a band that is some years ahead and has first hand knowledge of the industry.  The prize package is designed as a big helping hand into the music industry. It includes a NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth $10,000, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshops, recording time at York St Studio, 1000 single CDs produced by Forge Media, and radio and TV play of single. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award and the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award.