Katikati College student wins solo/duo in SFRQ

Bay of Plenty solo duo winner Louie Campbell from Katikati College. Image: Supplied.

Baypark was the scene for the Bay of Plenty upcoming musical talent on Saturday May 18, with the top 12 bands selected for the Smokefreerockquest regional final next month on June 29, and the top two Bay of Plenty solo/duo acts named for the opportunity to go ahead to the event's national final.

The top Bay of Plenty solo duo winners are Louie Campbell from Katikati College in first place, with Bree from Katikati College and Max Harvey from Rotorua Boys' High School named second equal.

Louie Campbell has already made a name for himself in Smokefreerockquest, as the frontman from 2018 third place national winning metal band Silvera. This year he returned to perform an acoustic song with a deep meaning.

'The environment I was in at that moment inspired the song,” says Louie.

'It is about autumn and how the leaves falling off trees and dying is a necessary part of the circle of life.”

The Bay of Plenty regional final will be held at the Totara Street PAC on June 29, starting at 7pm. Tickets available on the door or from Eventfinda. Presales are advised as the event is known to sell out.

The 12 Bay of Plenty bands that made it through to the regional final are:

Canvas – Mount Maunganui College, Papamoa College and Tauranga Girls' College.

Delta – Otumoetai College.

Suds – Otumoetai College.

M.O.M. – Taupo-nui-a Tai College.

Bird House – Otumoetai College.

Drop Dee – Tauranga Boys' College.

Rift – Bethlehem College.

Good Morning Good Night – Mount Maunganui College and Mount Maunganui Intermediate.

Hurley caught a rat – Mount Maunganui College.

Saint Klaed's Computer – Otumoetai College.

Elevar – Bethlehem College.

Vegan Funk Machine – Mount Maunganui College.

Founder and Director Pete Rainey says while Smokefreerockquest is a competition, the environment throughout the nationwide series of events is hugely supportive, with the emphasis on participation.

'Between now and the regional final, the work participants will put in to prepare for the next stage is a big part of what make Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats such valuable learning experiences.

'The solo-duo acts going into the video submission round, and the bands going into their regional final, will need to practise hard, and make good use of networking opportunities and social media to promote themselves and their achievements. For a lot of students these steps can be part of their NCEA assessments.”

At the Bay of Plenty final there will be awards for the top three bands, the MAINZ Musicianship Award, Best Song, Best Vocal, APRA Lyrics Award, and the ZM People's Choice voted by text.

The top regional bands and solo/duos submit footage for selection as finalists to play off at the Smokefreerockquest national final at the Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland on Saturday September 14, followed by the Smokefree Tangata Beats national final on Saturday September 21.

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1 comment

Katikati Success

Posted on 29-05-2019 12:20 | By John.C

Great news for Katikati


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