'Summery rock' band wins Smokefreerockquest

A three piece Christchurch band describing themselves as "summery rock" have won this year's Smokefreerockquest.

Five teen bands and a soloist competed for the title at the Bruce Mason Centre on the North Shore last night.

Band Neil Robinson won $10,000 worth of musical equipment, a deal to record a song at York St Studio and air time on The Edge Network.

Judges said the boys - in their last year at Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti school - gave a professional performance with tight sound, well crafted songs and an impressive vocalist.

Chris Young, lead guitarist, vocalist and spokesman for band said they got their name, Neil Robinson, from a bassist they had all played with in other bands.

"We thought it was a name that was a bit different and a conversation starter," he said. "It goes with our light poppy, dance sound."

The other band members are Josh Black on bass and Hayden Williams on drums. The boys said winning Smokefreerockquest made their dream of a career in music a reality.

Neil Robinson also won the Rockquest Promotions Best Song Award, with a $500 cash prize for their song The epic battle of Jude and his monkey.

The competition was judged by Ashley Page from Warner Music NZ, Emily Upston, from NZ on Air, Brad Carter from the band Steriogram, Mark Dye from the Edge and music producer Clint Murphy .

Rangitoto College's Sons of Solomon came second in the competition followed by R&B soloist Moana Ete from Wellington East Girls College

Other winners

* Smokefree Best Vocals Award- Moana Ete

* Smokefree Award for Women's Musicianship - Hope Robertson, singer and guitarist from the band Zan Batman Circus of Dunedin's Kavanagh College.

* The MAINZ Scholarship - Dylan Elise, drummer from the band, Under the influence of, Onslow College Wellington

* The Rampant.co.nz Lyric Award - Jessie Lee and Michael Wilson from Te Awamutu College with their song Blissful Ignorance.

* The Rip It Up Media Award for a published story on Smokefreerockquest - Niicola Collins from Lincoln High School writing as Nancy Herself, with first runner-up Eliana Gray of Nelson.