For the first time two bands from Dunedin have made the national finals of the Smokefree Rockquest.
Alternative rock band Deaf Raccoon (comprising John McGlashan College and Logan Park High School students) and feminist punk band SEEK HELP! (made up of Queen’s High School students) are both going to the national finals this September to perform at Auckland’s ASB Waterfront Theatre.
It was the first time any act from Dunedin had made it to the Rockquest finals since Bark Like a Dog from Taieri College in 2018.
"The local scene is so strong it’s paying dividends at the top end of the competition."
SEEK HELP! guitarist Lucy Hughes said there was a really good feminist punk scene in Dunedin and they had a lot of support.
They were already performing at venues around town including at all-ages gigs at Yours Cafe.
The band did not think they would make the national finals after coming second at regionals, but it was an exciting opportunity.
They had been together for about a year and a-half after meeting at school and doing projects in and out of the classroom together.
They made riot grrrl music because they found it really empowering.
"We try to focus on women’s issues thinking catcalling, hatefulness, ignorance broad range, we try to cover it all."
Deaf Raccoon vocalist Noelle Hill, 16, said it was "pretty cool" to make the finals.
It would be nice to win, but they were just happy to play their music for an audience.
The band had known each other a long time and had gone from playing in sandpits together to rocking out on stage, although they had only started performing under the stage name Deaf Raccoon recently.
He said they were named that because they liked raccoons and he had developed tinnitus in his right ear and was going a little deaf.
"It’s constant screeching," he said.
He said the tinnitus had not affected his music ability because he never really listened to his music teacher anyway.
He was a little afraid to lose his hearing completely so had started wearing ear plugs.
Their songs were about a variety of things and a jam session could either be really productive or a heated discussion about music theory.
"Usually I just come up with a few ideas and we just develop it from there," he said.
