The annual Southland regional Smokefreerockquest event will be held on June 17 at the Civic Theatre in Invercargill. 

Now in its thirty fourth year, the competition is held nationwide, with events held in venues in 21 regions from Whangarei to Invercargill.

The events include thousands of school aged musicians every year.

Smokefreerockquest is run simultaneously with Smokefree Tangata Beats which aims to nurture Pasifika and Māori culture in a contemporary music setting.

Participants, all enrolled in schools around the region, will perform on a professional stage. 

They will experience a full set up with stage lighting, a live sound engineer, a projected backdrop, technical support, full stage set-up and an MC running the show.

This year the regional event will welcome a live audience as well as being live-streamed so that friends, family and support crew of the acts can watch remotely. 

The regional event and live stream will start at 5pm.

General Manager Matt Ealand says that an ethos of development and confidence building has always reminded central to the programme.

 “With a 34 year history of Smokefreerockquest, and a very rich history of great kiwi musicians at that, we know that this programme works.” 

“Performing live on stage is a great boost in confidence and gives a great sense of achievement. It requires a lot of skills, not just musical ability.”

Also up for grabs at each regional heat is the Smokefree Tangata Beats award.

Smokefree Tangata Beats, run alongside Smokefreerockquest, has a focus on the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific. 

Entrants are encouraged to explore and celebrate the ways in which identity and culture is woven into the contemporary music they are writing.

The live events run from June 11 through to 8 July, with the top regional bands and solo/duos submitting footage for selection as semi-finalists where the top 10 will be decided, going on to perform at the National Final in Auckland on 24 September.

Smokefree Tangata Beats national final will be held on Friday the 23rd of September in Auckland.

Smokefreerockquest, has national winners’ prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners that includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, $16,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package, a photo shoot and branding package. 

There is also the Musicianship Award, the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, Rockshop Electronic Performance Award, ZM Best Song Award, and Vocals Award. 

The Southland acts performing on June 17 are:  

Solo/duo   

Las Chica - South Otago High School

Mercy Venables - Gore High School

Cloud Nine - James Hargest College

Meadow Bodkin-Allen - James Hargest College

Jorja and Brianna - James Hargest College

Tiana Turnbull - James Hargest College

Maia and Keita (SFRQ and SFTB) - James Hargest College

Bands  

The Terrace - James Hargest College

Abulia - James Hargest College

blxck window - Central Southland College

tbc (lucas, joshua, carson) - Gore High School

The Liveable Mess - Gore High School

 Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest include Broods, Marlon Williams, Six60, Ladyhawke, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga, and many more acts who have gained national and international acclaim.  

Smokefree Tangata Beats standout successes include Alien Weaponry, Strangely Arousing, and Nesian Mystik.