Te Ata Hapara Rerekura (right) and Ngarimu Te Utupoto Teki are Uncertain Times. Photo / Mike Tweed
Te Ata Hapara Rerekura (right) and Ngarimu Te Utupoto Teki are Uncertain Times. Photo / Mike Tweed
The Smokefreerockquest is back in front of a live audience this year, and bands, duos and solo artists from around Whanganui will perform original songs in Saturday's regional final.
Whanganui Girls College duo Uncertain Times, performing their song Make You Mine, will be the school's first Smokefreerockquest entry since 2017.
Singer Te Ata Hapara Rerekura said she and guitarist-singer Ngarimu Te Utupoto Teki always stuck together when it came to music.
"We had started writing something at the start of the year," Rerekura said.
"The guitar parts came about pretty much straight away, but the lyrics were hard, they took a little bit of time.
"There are a few nerves, but we're excited as well."
Whanganui High School has 10 acts in this weekend's regional final. Photo / Mike Tweed
Whanganui High School has entered eight bands this year, including The Amplified and Gecko.
The acts had a dress rehearsal at the Whanganui Musicians Club last week, under the watchful eye of music teachers Jeanette Jones and Freddy Loveridge.
Gecko singer and guitarist Briar Whitford said it was the first time any of the indie rock five-piece had entered the competition.
"I've brought songs into the band, some of which I wrote when I was about 12," Whitford said.
"That seems to have worked well. The first song we'll be playing [on Saturday] is one we wrote all together, though.
"Performing at the Musos Club was great. It made me want to get back on stage again."
This year's competition will be The Amplified's Gabriel Leggett's second time around.
"We've got a bit of pop and rock in there," Leggett said.
"Last year I was just standing still, without much energy, but you need to have that connection with your band members.
"I learned that you have to have a presence when you walk out onto the stage. You have to let people know what your band is all about.
"My songwriting skills have got better compared to last year as well."
Two more Whanganui High School entries are duos - The Other Side and Discount Fireworks.
The Other Side singer Jessie O'Connor said she had been writing songs for the past four years.
"At the moment I'd describe our stuff as acoustic-indie. They are slow songs mostly."
O'Connor and Discount Fireworks member Aaron Cogan were the leads for High School's recent production of Mamma Mia.
Cogan said he, too, was a Smokefreerockquest first-timer.
"I've never been able to describe the type of music we make," Cogan said.
"It's slow, pop-type stuff."
Bronson Belk (guitar and vocals) and Liam Green (drums) are bringing some riffs from Rangitīkei College to the stage on Saturday. Photo / Supplied
Rangitīkei College music head Ayden Hancy said the school had entered three acts this year.
"We've got a two-piece band called A4, and two solo acts - Bee, and Jessany Cottis," Hancy said.
"A4 are great, they are guitar, vocals and drums, and they have a bit of a Black Keys vibe to them.
"There are some cool riffs in there, and they are practising hard every weekend.
"Bee has an indie vibe. She has a really poetic way of laying out her words.
"Jessany is a bit more pop-country I would say."
Hancy said he would be taking the school van to Whanganui on Saturday night.
"We'll all be going over together. It should be really cool night."
First and second place in the band and duo/solo sections, as well as the winner of the People's Choice award, will then be invited to submit two songs via video.
Thirty acts from throughout New Zealand will then be chosen for the next round.
In Business, made up of students from Whanganui High School and Cullinane College, have taken out the top spot at the Regional Smokefreerockquest for the past two years.
• The Whanganui Regional Final of the Smokefreerockquest is at 7pm on Saturday, June 26, at the Royal Whanganui Opera House.
