Rockquest founder is looking forward to Whanganui finals

Tia Wright from Rangitikei College performing at the Smokefree Rockquest regional final last year. Photo/Lewis Gardner

Smokefree Rockquest founder Glenn Common will be in Whanganui next weekend for the regional final of this year's youth music event.

It has been 30 years since Common founded the event with fellow Nelson music teacher Pete Rainey and he plans to make this his final year.

"It has been a wonderful ride but I feel like 30 years is enough," he says.

Looking back, Common says he has great memories of young musicians who went on to launch successful careers and there have been a number from Whanganui.

"Whanganui High school band The Have, who were the 2002 national winners, were fantastic and Brodie White, Peter Mangan and Mike Tweed are playing in Germany these days."

Successful solo artist Seth Haapu is another young Whanganui talent Common recalls well.

"Seth is actually a Rockquest judge on the East Coast now and I think he moved to Rotorua with his family the year after he competed in Whanganui," says Common.

"Then, of course, there is Michael Franklin-Browne of Head Like a Hole.

"I think that was back in 1991."

Wanganui Collegiate band Kate in the Lemon Tree were national winners in 1994.

Franklin-Browne, now a music tutor at UCOL Whanganui, has been mentoring 2018 Whanganui Rockquest hopefuls along with fellow tutors Lizzie de Vegt, Sacha Keating and Andrew Condon.

Other memorable Whanganui contestants are 2005 regional winners Legions of Sound.

"Whanganui does seem to breed great musical talent and I love the opera house - it's a fantastic venue."

Common says there is a record number of Whanganui entrants this year and he expects the evening might run late.

"We usually finish the night at 9.30 but I suspect it might go until about 10 because it looks like there may be up to 20 entrants."

He does not recall there being such a high number before and says he looks forward to seeing the talent.

Smokefree Rockquest, Saturday, June 9 at 7pm, Royal Wanganui Opera House. Adult $15, student $10, child to 5yrs free. Book online at seatadvisor or at the Royal Wanganui Opera House.