NEWS: Finalists Announced For The 2011 Smokefreerockquest National Finals

Hamilton is in for a huge celebration of Kiwi music come September 17.

New Zealand’s six top bands play off for the country’s biggest youth music prize at the Smokefreerockquest National Final, at Claudlands Arena from 4pm on Saturday, September 17. At 7pm that same night rock concert Kiwi Cream will deliver a stellar line up of Shihad, Supergroove, Opshop and Kids of 88.

The guest acts have been confirmed for the Smokefreerockquest final with high-energy chart topper Dane Rumble leading the line up. Rumble started out in 1999 as the co-founder and writer for hip-hop act Fast Crew. Since going solo he has had numerous hit singles including 'Cruel' and 'Don’t Know What to Do', and his first solo album, The Experiment, released in March 2010, debuted at number 1 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. He was the most nominated pop artist at last year’s New Zealand Music Awards.

The other guest act is the 2010 Smokefreerockquest winners, The Good Fun from the small Waikato town of Pirongia, who have quickly made their mark on the music industry. They recorded their first single, 'Naughty Little Sin', at York St Studio with Tui award winner Andrew Buckton and filmed their first music video for this single. This video has now achieved 125,000+ hits on YouTube, and they have just put out their second single 'Karaoke'.

The top six bands playing off at the national final in Hamilton on September 17 are:

Get off the Grass - Rangitoto College North Shore, Auckland
Massad - Sacred Heart College Auckland
Attic Sky’s - Whakatane High School, Bay of Plenty
A Bit Nigel - Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, Taupo, Rotorua region
The Velvet Regime - Naenae College and Hutt Valley High School, Wellington region
The Peasants - Garin College, Nelson

At stake is a prize package designed as a big helping hand into the music industry. It includes a NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth $10,000, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, musical gear to the value of $10,000 from NZ Rockshops, recording time and radio promotional support for a single. There is also the MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship, the APRA Lyric Award, the Lowdown Best Song Award and the Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award.

Event Information
Smokefreerockquest National Final
Saturday 17 September at Claudlands Claudlands Arena, Hamilton
Tickets to the Smokefreerockquest final are $10 and are on sale now from Ticketek or at the door.
Tickets to Kiwi Cream are also on sale now from Ticketek (Ticket holders to Kiwi Cream will get free entry to the Smokefreerockquest final)

For more information check out www.smokefreerockquest.co.nz