The former Strutts pair were joined by drummer Alastair Mawhinney earlier this year and the trio won the coveted Best Song award at the nationwide Smokefreerockquest grand finals last week.
The Slur-Tones also picked up a gong for their performance on the night with the band named the second best act in the country, from the more than 690 bands who entered.
Only heavy metal outfit Beneath The Silence was able to top the three young Mount Aspiring College musicians. Coming so close to winning has made the Slur-Tones members hungry for more musical success.
Previous Rockquest winners and finalists such as 2008 Apra Silver Scroll Best Song winners Op Shop, Anika Moa, Goodnight Nurse, and Bic Runga have gone on to forge careers in the music industry.
It is a path the three teenage musicians want to walk.
Slur-Tones front man Fabian Shaw is a virtuoso lead guitarist who stepped in two years ago to take over singing duties for the Strutts when their classically trained former vocalist, Will Austen, left Wanaka to study music at the University of Otago.
Shaw's parents are both musicians; mother Anna is a teacher at Mount Aspiring College, while father Rick plays in Wanaka band the Hip Replacements, alongside Fabian and Slur-Tones drummer Mawhinney.
Bass guitarist Weastell has been playing since he was 10 years old and has taught himself by listening to other bands' songs and jamming with Shaw and previous Strutts band members.
Mawhinney is the newcomer to the group. A hostel boarder from Drury, on the outskirts of Auckland, the drummer says he has wanted to make a living from music since he was 9 years old.
The trio have played at various bars and venues around Wanaka. Last night, they gave a homecoming gig for their fans at live-music venue and Wanaka pub the Local, owned by the father of former Strutts drummer Bink Bowler.
The support of their Wanaka-based fans, family, teachers, and former band-mates have buoyed The Slur-Tones as they pursued their Rockquest dreams.
Now the focus has changed. Their sights are set on musical careers, with their secondary schooling set to finish this year.
All three plan to head to Wellington next year to pursue study options. Shaw and Mawhinney want to study at the New Zealand jazz school, which has produced musicians such as Age Prior of Fly My Pretties fame.
Weastell wants to learn about sound engineering and explore DJ opportunities.
They hope to be able to stay together as a band and make a name for themselves in the vibrant live-music scene in the capital.
Readers who cannot get to one of the Slur-Tones' regular Wanaka gigs can listen to their music and access the band's profile on its myspace web page at www.myspace.com/theslurtones.
• Band on a good run
2005: Guitarist Fabian Shaw and bass guitarist Yannick Weastell play their first regional Rockquest finals in Wanaka in separate bands.
2006: They get together to found Mount Aspiring College band the Strutts, with vocalist Will Austen, guitarist Andrew McMaster, and drummer Bink Bowler, to win the Southern Lakes regional Rockquest finals
2007: The Strutts return as a three-piece consisting of Shaw, Weastell, and Bowler to win back-to-back regional finals and are among the final 12 bands of the nationwide competition.
February, 2008: The Strutts debut their original song Crazy Lady at the Rippon Music Festival alongside headlining New Zealand music acts such as Shihad, Kora, and Shapeshifter.
July, 2008: Shaw and Weastell form the Slur-Tones with new drummer Alastair Mawhinney and win the Southern Lakes regional Rockquest for the third year running, going on to win a place among the final six bands nationwide.
September, 2008: Crazy Lady wins best song at the national Smokefreeockquest Grand Final Awards as the Slur-Tones finish second in the national competition.
