Young Nelson three win Smokefreerockquest

New Vinyl, a quirky three-piece band, took out a major New Zealand music award at the national final of Smokefreerockquest in Hamilton on Saturday night.

The Nelson three were over the moon when they heard their names read as the winners for 2012.

Lead singer Alex Farrell-Davey was in a state of disbelief as he shook hands with the founders and exclaimed to the crowd that he could cry.

“When we heard the other finalists we didn’t think we’d win  – they were so talented, but we are really stoked,” he said. “Smokefreerockquest gave us a goal to work towards and built my strength as a song writer.”

Their unusual combination of instruments and folk jazz sound won them $10,000 worth of instruments from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, a NZ On Air new recording and music video grant worth over $10,000, a place on the NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc, radio promotional support for a single, and video play on youth music channel FOUR.

The year 12 and 13 members from Nelson College are Ed Palmer (double bass), Alex Farrell-Davey (guitar and vocals) and Allister Meffan (accordion and trumpet).

Alex had entered Smokefrerockquest before but said it was the originality of the three-piece combination that brought success – plus ‘practice, practice, practice’.

They are the second Nelson band in a row to win Smokefreerockquest after last year’s winner was The Peasants from Nelson’s Garin College.

Smokefreerockquest founder and director Pete Rainey said it was almost ‘an embarrassment of riches’ to have a Nelson band win again.

“We can be really proud that Nelson kids are getting great support from their teachers and from this event,” he said.

The judges from the New Zealand music industry, Jaden Parkes (Sony Music), Jeff Newton (NZ on Air), Lisa Blatchford (Ivy Lies), Matt Barthow (FOUR) and Matt Warman (Midnight Youth), said it was a very tough decision.

“New Vinyl gave a mature performance with solid vocals and melodies that were really well written and performed,” said Jeff Newton.

Second place, winning $5000 from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, went to Auckland pianist and singer Indi, who is 18-year-old Indira Force from ACG Senior College.

Third place, winning $3000 worth of musical gear from NZ Rockshops and their suppliers, went to acoustic duo Luke and Amberly from Kamo High School, Whangarei. They also won the Lowdown Best Song Award.

Director of Smokefreerockquest Matt Ealand said there was a lot of comradeship between the bands this year.

Other awards were made to the national winners from the 25 regional finals in the following categories:

The MAINZ Scholarship for outstanding musicianship: Joshua Wrightson, the drummer from A Reflection of Yesterday, Alfriston College, Auckland.

The APRA Lyric Award went to Claudia Jardine from Cashmere High School, Christchurch.

The Smokefree Women’s Musicianship Award: Ruby Walsh, electric guitar, Getting Up Backwards, Hauraki Plains College, Waikato.

The national winners of Skinny People’s Choice, voted by text, were Heroes for Sale from Green Bay High School who won the opportunity to play at the national final as the opening guest band.

Musical successes from Smokefreerockquest over its 24-year history include Kimbra, Midnight Youth, Opshop, Evermore, Kids of 88, Brooke Fraser, Anika Moa,  The Feelers, The Black Seeds, Nesian Mystik, Bic Runga, The Naked and Famous, and Elemeno P.

More photos from the event here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.374080869335341.88049.176296599113770&type=1