Vacant City takes rockquest

Pictured are Vacant City including Jess Brown, left, and Jake Schdroski, with (out of shot) Hayden Warren and Zac Emerson.

Wairarapa College band Vacant City won the 2014 Wairarapa finals of Smokefreerockquest at King Street Live on Friday night, sealing an almost back-to-back run of five years of victory for the teenage pop rockers.

Contest spokeswoman Jacquetta Bell said the four-piece was made up of friends from Wairarapa and Rathkeale colleges, and had won the Wairarapa finals of Smokefreerockquest when the boys were in Years 9, 10 and 11, coming second in the contest last year and winning again this year, their last year at school.

Wairarapa College student Jake Schdroski, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, said the band had this year changed their name from Back to the Remedy to Vacant City, and "always dreamed" of a career as musicians.

The band were absolutely determined to get to the national final this time, Schdroski said.

"We've evolved heaps and now have two guys on synths adding a backing dimension," he said.

"We class ourselves as rock with a pop aspect and an 80s vibe, and a lot of our songs are quite energetic - they get the crowd going and they seem to dig it."

Vacant City also includes Hayden Warren on bass and synthesiser and drummer Zac Emerson, also from Wairarapa College, and Jesse Brown on lead guitar and synthesiser, from Rathkeale College. Vacant City also won the Lowdown Best Song award.

Second place went to funk band We Funked Up, from Kuranui College, which is made up of Dylan Taylor on drums, lead guitarist Walter Taber, Daniel Aburn on bass, Liam Macdonald on saxophone, Justin Bain on synthesiser, guitarist Sarne McGillicuddy, vocalist Thor Elley and piano accordionist Marlon Moala-Knox.

Singer songwriter and pianist Anna Mae Jamieson, from Kuranui College, won the solo/duo section and also won the Smokefree Award For Women's Musicianship. Peter Dew, from Wairarapa College, placed second in the solo/duo section.

Jamieson, performing as Anna Mae, had entered Smokefreerockquest before with We Funked Up, but this year entered as a soloist.

"I've played piano for about 10 years and been really encouraged by my mother who was also a singer," she said. "My songs are about living life to the fullest and finding out the truth about yourself. I guess you'd call my sound alternative-pop."

The four acts won musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the opportunity to gain selection for the national final at Auckland's Q Theatre on September 27.

Founder and director Glenn Common said the Wairarapa finalists would have to work hard to make the most of the opportunity Smokefreerockquest offered.

"They now send in video footage of their original music that will be judged in August as we lead up to the national final," he said. "It's a process that demands creativity and musical ability, as well as learning to work together as a group and developing the organisation skills they'll need if they're going to make it on the Kiwi music scene."

The full list of awards made on Friday night was:

Band 1st Place: Vacant City from Wairarapa College and Rathkeale College

Band 2nd Place: We Funked Up from Kuranui College

Solo/Duo 1st Place: Anna Mae, Kuranui College

Solo/Duo 2nd Place: Peter Dew, Wairarapa College

Third-placed band, winning musical gear from associate sponsor NZ Rockshops and their suppliers: Your Long Lost Uncle from St Matthew's Collegiate, Kuranui College and Wairarapa College

APRA Lyric Award: Lauren Carr, Dannevirke High School

Lowdown Best Song: Vacant City, Wairarapa College and Rathkeale College

The Mainz Musicianship Award with the opportunity to be selected for the $4500 Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship, announced at the national final: Frank Dickson, Wairarapa College, the lead guitarist from Your Long Lost Uncle

Smokefree Award For Women's Musicianship: Anna Mae, Kuranui College

People's Choice voted by text: The Rush Effect, Rathkeale College