Music Industry News

Today’s Video of the Day is from 2023 National Smokefree Rockquest winners hailing from Tāmaki Makaurau: Parkdale. This fun and punchy video is from their third single, ‘Hesitate’.

Rockquest Promotions began unfolding in 1988 as founding duo Pete Rainey and Glenn Common became friends as fellow highschool teachers in Ōtautahi. A local radio station was running a performance competition and Pete and Glenn decided to enter a few bands from their school. Pete and Glenn saw how the opportunity gave the taiohi a new sense of belonging and confidence on the stage. The next year, the radio station was unable to facilitate the competition again, and so Pete and Glenn took matters into their own hand – hosting the first ever edition of Rockquest.

Now, the competition has become a nationwide affair, becoming a highly anticipated event for contestants, schools, and supporting friends and whānau. Smokefree Rockquest hosts more than 40 gigs across the motu from Whangārei to Waihōpai (Invercargill). The competition has been a springboard for many beloved Aotearoa acts contributing to the growth and vibrance of our humming hapori. It has also served as the foundation of Aotearoa’s finest artists and their early iterations such as Anika Moa, L.A.B, Julia Deans, Bic Runga, Kimbra, Nadia Reid, Aldous Harding, Yumi Zouma, Marlon Williams and more.

The regional heats for the 2024 Smokefree Rockquest competition are currently underway. The team have launched a wholesome webseries following many of the budding artists hosted by local music heroes in each of the episodes such as Hollie Smith, Drax Project and more. You can watch the miniseries on their Instagram or Youtube!

Rockquest has become a whole community within itself, “amplifying local and independent music community champions.” Check out the video by Dave Thompson, rock out in your bedroom with Parkdale and tune in āpōpō (and every day of New Zealand Music Month) for a new Video of the Day!

Check out all things Smokefree Rockquest below:
Website
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Youtube

Check out all things Parkdale below:
Linktree
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