2 ChCh Bands In Smokefree Rockquest Final 6
26th Sept 2007


(Regional Winners - Frankly Mauve)

The Smokefreerockquest finals next month promise a varied celebration of young Kiwi music talent, with the six national finalists announced covering the field from electronica to post punk. Two Christchurch bands feature in the final 6 - Regional champions Frankly Mauve and RDU Roundup winners Bang! Bang! Eche!.

650 bands played off in over 40 heats and finals around the country over winter, with the final selection from DVDs of the bands' original music, made by judges Jason Kerrison from Opshop, Ashley Page from Warner Music NZ, and Tania Dean from NZ on Air.

In geographical order the finalists are:

Solomon - Rangitoto College, North Shore.
This five piece band has grown musically and professionally since coming second in last year's national finals. Together now for three years, they have developed an artier sound with their sophisticated blend of 'epic, dark rock and bluesy guitar grit'.

Malford - Botany Downs Secondary College, Auckland East
 With a mix of catchy, fast-paced, melodic pop tunes and a sprinkling of four-part harmonies, these four guys from Auckland East have created a genre of their own - barberpop.

The B-Side Electro Funk Disaster - Awatapu College and Palmerston North Boys High School, Manawatu
The Indie Blues three-piece band from Palmerston North formed in 2005. They've drawn inspiration from artists such as The Pixies, The Strokes and Jimi Hendrix, and have developed their sound into a unique balance of jazz, rock and fusion.

Frankly Mauve - Burnside High School, Canterbury
This Canterbury five-piece has been playing together for two years. Their brand of indie-tronica/surf rock has come out of the garage, through the regional finals for the second time and now into the national finals.

Bang! Bang! Eche! - Hagley Community College and St Andrews College, Canterbury
Two girls and four boys from Christchurch who describe their sound as 'live electronics, post punk, breakcore'. They have their first EP underway and have been doing plenty of gigs around Christchurch.

Taking the Fall - John McGlashan College, Logan Park High School and Bayfield High School, Otago.
Taking the Fall formed in early 2005 and their blend of alternative rock infused with metal and screamo influences has already gained this five piece band a reputation as a very tight, original act in the Dunedin music scene.

Rockquest Promotions Founders and Directors Glenn Common and Pete Rainey said the standard of the top bands this year was higher than ever.

"These young musicians, while still at school are almost at a professional level, gigging regularly and playing with a maturity that sets them apart. Bands are increasingly made up of students from more than one school, they are working more independently of their schools and have a mature, career focussed attitude," Rainey said.

Common noted that song-writing is more developed: "Bands now need to have more than one good song - they are more adventurous, there are more keyboards, they are trying for their own sound and developing strong individual styles."

The Smokefreerockquest National Finals are at the Bruce Mason Centre on Auckland's North Shore, on October 20. Tickets are $20 at the venue pre-sales and door-sales.
 At stake is the first prize of $10,000 worth of music gear and recording time, plus almost guaranteed recognition by the music industry.

The other awards made at the finals reinforce the key Smokefreerockquest aim of encouraging students to write and perform their own music. Individual prizes are awarded for best lyrics, best vocals, women's musicianship and the best song. A scholarship to the Tai Poutini contemporary music course is also awarded. There is also the Rip It Up Journalism Award for fledgling music writers.

Smokefreerockquest regional finals from this year begin to screen on C4 this week, featuring Nelson and Waikato. The programmes screen at 5pm, during Vodafone Select live, except for the national final that will screen at 7pm on the 26th of Oct. (full details on episode breakdown follow at end of this media release)

About Smokefreerockquest
Smokefreerockquest is the biggest and most influential nation-wide youth event held in New Zealand, attracting audience numbers in excess of 100,000 every year. Founded by music teachers Glenn Common and Pete Rainey in 1988 (now running Rockquest Promotions full time out of Nelson), it has become a New Zealand institution. Bands including The Datsuns, Anika Moa, Steriogram, Tadpole, the feelers, The Blackseeds, Nesian Mystic, Bic Runga, Fur Patrol, Betchadupa, King Kapisi, Zed and The Have all participated in the event during its 18-year history. SmokefreeRockquest aims to motivate young musicians to prove their ability and realise the heights they can reach in their music careers, and encourage their peers to support 100% original New Zealand music.

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