| Smokefreerockquest | |
|---|---|
| Sponsored by | Smokefree/Auahi Kore |
| Country | New Zealand |
| First award | 1988 |
| Website | smokefreerockquest |
Smokefreerockquest (SFRQ) is an annual music competition forintermediate andhigh school bands throughout New Zealand.
The first Rockquest was held in 1988, and was organised byChristchurch radio stationC93FM as a local event. The following year, local sound company owner Mike Waldegrave, Music promoter Barb Cuttance and 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 ofNelson.[2]
Smokefreerockquest reaches audience numbers in excess of 24,000.[citation needed] Its aim is to motivate young musicians to prove their musical ability and to encourage their peers to support originalNew Zealand music. Initially bands playedcovers, 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 include, Park Rd, There's A Tuesday,Midnight Youth,Opshop,Evermore,Ladyhawke, Minuit, Marina Davis, Jeremy Lawrence,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,The Phoenix Foundation,The Feelers,The Black Seeds,Nesian Mystik,Bic Runga,The Checks,Julia Deans, Pine,King Kapisi,Kingston, The Fresh Prints,The Naked and Famous,Rival State,[3]Autozamm, Taste Nasa,Kimbra,Elemeno P,Alien Weaponry[4] and Joe's Van.[5]
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] Acts that place first or second in each category (Solo-duo or Band) at their regional event have the opportunity to submit a 12-minute performance video which is judged by a panel of industry professionals. From these video submissions, 10 acts 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,Whanganui,East Coast,Hawkes Bay,Manawatu,Wairarapa,Wellington,Nelson,Marlborough District,Canterbury,West Coast,Timaru,Otago andSouthland.[6]
The overall national winners (Band and Solo-duo) receive a prizepack which includes the opportunity to record asingle, musical gear from NZ Rockshops, a New Music Single grant funded byNZ On Air which allows the act for have a music video created and released professionally, and mentoring with a music industry professional. Second and third-placed finishers also receive Rockshop vouchers and the opportunity to record a single.[8]Other awards at regional events include second and third placings, ZM Best Song Award, APRA Lyric Award, ZM People's Choice Award, Musicianship Award, and Best Vocals Award.[9]
