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Thursday May 15th
Press Release: Smokefree Rockquest 20th Anniversary
Press Release: Smokefree Rockquest 20th Anniversary
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entered.
This is up significantly on last year's 650 entries, which event director
Glenn Common says reflects the high profile of past winners and the enduring
appeal of putting young musicians on stage in front of an audience of their
peers.
Smokefreerockquest success stories include the Datsuns, Opshop, Anika Moa,
the Electric Confectionaires, Steriogram, Nesian Mystik, Bic Runga, The
Checks, Liam Finn, and Evermore.
This year's regional events start this weekend with bands playing off in
Dunedin, Tauranga, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Hamilton and Invercargill. Over
the next seven weeks there will be 46 events in 24 centres.
Smokefreerockquest is New Zealand's biggest nationwide youth music event,
and involves one quarter of all teenagers nationwide. It is now recognised
by the music industry as a talent feeder of new bands and solo musicians.
Common says the event teaches more than 'just music': “Entering
Smokefreerockquest is demanding - it teaches kids a whole range of skills
from writing about issues and emotions to getting along with each other and
negotiating with their teachers and parents. Our emphasis on original music
is the event's strength and at the core of its 20 year contribution to kiwi
music."
Prizes awarded at the national final at the Christchurch Town Hall on Friday
September 5 include musical equipment from NZ Rockshop to the value of
$10,000 and The Edge Airplay Award with NZ On Air where the winning band's
music and video are recorded at York Street Studios with guaranteed airplay.
Other awards reinforce the key Smokefreerockquest aim of encouraging
students to write and perform their own music. Individual prizes are awarded
for best lyrics, women's musicianship and the best song. A scholarship to
the Tai Poutini contemporary music course is awarded for musicianship, along
with selected bands being matched with past successes in a mentoring
programme supported by the Music Industry Commission and the Ministry of
Education.
A celebration concert featuring past successes from Smokefreerockquest is
planned for September 6 in Christchurch, the night after the national final.
More information is available from the official Smokefreerockquest website
www.smokefreerockquest.co.nz
Smokefree
Smokefree exists to encourage New Zealanders to adopt and maintain healthy
attitudes and lifestyles. Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats
ensure the positive Ssmokefree message reaches young people in their own
environment.
Twenty years of Smokefreerockquest
Smokefreerockquest is the biggest and most influential nation-wide youth
event held in New Zealand, reaching audience numbers in excess of 100,000
every year. Founded in 1988 by music teachers Glenn Common and Pete Rainey,
who now run Rockquest Promotions full time out of Nelson, it has become a
New Zealand institution. Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest over its
20-year history include Opshop, Atlas, Evermore, Die!Die!Die!, Flight of the
Conchords, the Datsuns, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, The Electric
Confectionaires, Steriogram, Aaradhna, Spacifix, Phoenix Foundation, The
Feelers, The Black Seeds, Nesian Mystick, Bic Runga, The Checks, Fur
Patrol, Liam Finn, Pine, King Kapisi, and Elemeno P.
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. For more information
visit http://www.nelsonmedia.co.nz/[www.smokefreerockquest.co.nz] or
email [help@smokefreerockquest.co.nz]
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