Young musicians look for big break

 

Our younger generation of musos get to strut their stuff again in the Smokefree Rockquest 2016 heats at Forum North, Whangarei, but unfortunately too late for us to give you the results in this issue. Northland finals will be held on Friday May 27.

Local bands performing include: The Monkey Assassins (Rodney College), Alien Weaponry (Bream Bay College/Otamatea High School), Re-Bound (Rodney College), Southgate (Mahurangi College), Something Like That (Bream Bay College).

Local solo or duo entrants include: Black Fleur (Rodney College), Leah (Rodney College), Mollie (Rodney College), Aniwa Heke (Mahurangi College), TRRINZZ (Dargaville High School), Abbey Collins (Rodney College).

This will be the fourth appearance for the Monkey Assassins and a fifth for Alien Weaponry, both having performed with distinction in the past and expanding their repertoire each year as the competition becomes hotter and more varied.

Smokefree Rockquest, powered by Rockshop, has national winner prize packages for bands and solo-duo winners that includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, a $20,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package, a Decent Exposure campaign on The Edge TV, a photo shoot and branding package from Imaginary Friends.

There is also the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship for Outstanding Musicianship, the Australasian Performing Right Association Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award, the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award, the Dominate Hair Style Award and the People’s Choice voted by text with the opportunity to open the Smokefree Rockquest national final.

n NB: Heat winners will appear on the mangawhaifocus.co.nz website as soon as possible.

THRASH: Waipu-based Alien Weaponry have already invaded the metal market.