Invercargill's Centre Stage will be humming tonight as Southland’s top bands and solo-duos play off in the regional final of Smokefreerockquest for 2019. 

Smokefree Promotions chairperson Matt Ealand said the relationship with Smokefree had become a meaningful part of the programme. 

“We are proud that the Smokefree message has been able to instigate social change in New Zealand within our work with young people. Statistics show the rates of young people taking up smoking has dropped dramatically over the last twenty years, that is a great thing to be part of.”

These are the acts to play off at the Southland regional final at the Centre Stage on tonight starting at 7pm. Tickets $15 adults and $10 students at the door or from TicketDirect.  

Marea & Chantelle - Verdon College; Minus One - Southland Girls' High School; Ella Cupit - Gore High School; Emmy & Michaela - Verdon College; Matterin - Gore High School; Holly Muirhead - Verdon College; SWITCH - Menzies College; Bella Tuffley - Gore High School; Nadège - Southland Girls' High School; Maggie Townley - Verdon College; Michael Kuresa - Southland Boys' High School; Destiny   - Verdon College; Murder On Venus - Gore High School; hold shift - Gore High School; Back on road - Menzies College; Polarised - James Hargest College; Illuminate - Central Southland College; Red Aesthetic - Gore High School; The Casters - James Hargest College; Oddball - Southland Boys' High School; Stitch in Time - James Hargest College; Zookiniz - Central Southland College

At the regional final there are awards for the top three bands, the Rockshop Electronic Performance Award, the Musicianship Award, the APRA Lyrics Award, Smokefree Best Vocal, and the ZM People’s Choice voted by text.  

Smokefreerockquest, powered by Rockshop, 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 from Imaginary Friends. There is also the Musicianship Award, the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Lyric Award, Rockshop Electronic Performance Award, Best Song Award, and Smokefree Vocals Award.  

Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest include Broods, Marlon Williams, Robinson, Fazerdaze, Drax Project, Six60, Leisure, Opshop, Evermore, Ladyhawke, Joel Little, Tiny Ruins, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa, Chelsea Jade, Nadia Reid, Die!Die!Die!, Leroy Clampitt, Aldous Harding, Steriogram, Phoenix Foundation, Skinny Hobos, Kimbra, Aaradhna, The Black Seeds, Bic Runga, and Balu Brigada. Smokefree Tangata Beats standout successes include Alien Weaponry, Strangely Arousing, and Nesian Mystik, the only New Zealand band to ever have ten singles all certified gold or platinum.