Winning band didn't miss a beat

DELIGHTFUL DUO: Javia Maheno (left) and Amber Rogers, aka Kaitaia College duo Amalgam.

Kerikeri High School band Back 2 Back was a convincing winner at Sunday night's Far North final of Smokefreerockquest 2015.

The contest veterans - Rawiri Webb (guitar), Manawa-kaha Webb (drums), Ryan Evans (bass) and vocalist Rachel Hall have been together for three years, and had already racked up a win and a second placing in previous regional finals - didn't even miss a beat when Rachel's microphone failed mid-song.

Rachel also won the best female musicianship prize, while Elsa Meier (Springbank School) won the solo/duo category.

The night's other big winner was Kerikeri deathcore band Purple Minded, claiming the people's choice title and the award for best musicianship (which carried the chance to win a $4000 MAINZ scholarship) for guitarist Simon Halliday.

Sixteen acts from as far north as Kaitaia took part in this year's competition, Rachel Hall saying that despite her previous experience this performance was particularly scary.

"My microphone cut out during a song so I had to jump on with the guitarist and sing with him," she said.

"I think we handled it OK, but we didn't know if it would put our marks down."

Rawiri Webb put their success down to the fact that they had been playing together for six years.

"We're all whanau. We've been together a long time," he said.

Second place in the band category went to another Kerikeri High School combo, Cypress - Morgan Royal (bass), Kane Strongman (drums), Peter Blakely (lead guitar), Zoe King-Samuels (vocals) and Liam Taplin (guitar), and third to Volume 1 (Whangaroa College).

Year 13 Springbank student Elsa Meier won the solo/duo section. She had previously competed as part of an all girl band, and found it quite different performing solo.

"I enjoy it, but it's scary standing up there by yourself," she said.

"Rockquest has taught me a lot, and it's been good performing alongside others with the same interest."

Guy Yarrall (Kerikeri High School) placed second in the solo/duo category.

The APRA lyric award went to Danielle Hookway (Mystique, Kerikeri High School), and the Lowdown best song award to Te Rina Flavell Kahle (who was performing as Te Rina, Whangaroa College).

All four winning and runner-up acts won musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the chance to gain selection for the national final at Auckland's Raye Freedman Centre on Friday September 11.

Smokefreerockquest Founder and director Glenn Common said more bands than ever were reaching the high standard required of national finalists.

"Real dedication is required to achieve the stand-out quality that the judges will be looking for," he said.

"They have to capture 15 minutes of their original material on video in a process that demands creativity and musical ability, being able to work together as a group and having good organisational skills. What separates them out is perseverance - industry success seldom happens overnight."