On Saturday, the John McGlashan College three-piece were shocked to hear they had beaten 14 other bands to win the Dunedin regional Smokefreerockquest final.
The programme, now in its 37th year, sees bands, soloists and duos from Whangarei to Invercargill fight it out for a spot in the national final.
The band is comprised of year 11 students Christopher Body, Leo Hill and Jamie Bradfield.
Christopher said the three-piece were "buzzing", but also very surprised.
"We were all just really confused as to how we won — all the other bands are so talented ... I just thought we had no chance."
Christopher plays bass and provides back-up vocals, Leo does the main vocals and guitar and Jamie is the drummer.
"When you get on stage of course it’s nerve-racking, but afterwards it was fine," Christopher said.
He described Deaf Raccoon’s genre as "indie-rock ska" and the group performed an original and untitled song, which was
written during lunchtime jam sessions in the school music room.
This was Christopher’s third year playing at Smokefreerockquest, but his first with Dead Raccoon and his first since the competition was shifted from the Mayfair Theatre to the Regent Theatre.
The new venue was significantly more intimidating, Christopher said.
"It was a lot more terrifying this year — it’s so much bigger ... but you can’t see anything when the lights are on you, so it’s fine once you’re up there."
