Stay focused, listen to your band mates and perform for your
audience, are the words of advice given by the co-director of
Smokefreerockquest to high school acts entering the Central
Otago regional final in Queenstown tomorrow night.
Former music teachers Glenn Common and Pete Rainey founded
New Zealand's only live nationwide original music youth event
22 years ago.
Mr Common will double as backstage manager at the regional
final, when it is held at the Queenstown Memorial Hall for
the first time.
Between 16 and 19 teenaged bands and soloists from Wakatipu
High School, Mt Aspiring College, Cromwell College and
Maniototo Area School are given seven minutes to play their
original songs before a paying audience.
Among the prizes on the night are vouchers for music gear for
first, second and third placegetters but the real prize is a
shot at the national final.
"Some of the bands will be getting their first experience of
performing live," Mr Common said.
"Keep focused, listen to each other and perform for the
audience.
"Central Otago has produced national finalists in the past
and the standard is very much what's happening in the rest of
New Zealand."
Mr Common said honing the craft of songwriting and tenacity
were instrumental in today's Rockquest competitor becoming
tomorrow's international recording artist.
Midnight Youth, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Minuit,
Die!Die!Die!, Cut Off Your Hands, the Datsuns, Brooke Fraser,
Anika Moa, Anna Coddington, Phoenix Foundation, the Feelers,
the Black Seeds, the Checks and Fur Patrol were among the
many acts launched by Rockquest.
Two finalists from the regional final will have just over
three weeks to record 15 minutes of their strongest original
material on DVD.
Music industry professionals and artists would shortlist
entries to eight bands or soloists who would go ahead to the
national final, at Founder's Theatre, in Hamilton, on
September 11.
Rockquest would announce the final eight next month.
"Anyone who gets to the national final has the ability to
make it and we challenge them to do so," Mr Common said.
• The Smokefreerockquest 2010 Central Otago regional final is
on at Queenstown Memorial Hall tomorrow, at 7pm.
Tickets cost $15 at Play it Again Records in Queenstown and
Base in Wanaka, or $20 at the door.
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