A band comprising students from three Timaru high schools took first place at the Timaru regional Smokefreerockquest last week.
The programme, now in its 37th year, holds nationwide events in 21 regions from Whangarei to Invercargill.
Representing Timaru Boys’ High School, Timaru Girls’ High School and Mountainview High School, The Falveys secured themselves $500 of musical equipment from the Rockshop win winning the top prize.
The group was made up of students Darres Nabetari (guitar), James Dyche (guitar), Via Bunting (vocals), Luke Winter (bass), Sebastian Henderson (guitar), and George Elder (drums).
In a statement, vocalist Via Bunting said it felt amazing to have won.
‘‘We worked so hard and had so many rough patches, but we did it.
‘‘The first song we wrote took us so long, but once we finally got the flow of it the second song just came straight out.’’
Second place in the band category went to Inside Joke from Roncalli College.
The top spot of the solo-duo category went to Neave Lauren from Waitaki Girls’ High School, and second place to Harriet from Mount Hutt College.
All four Smokefreerockquest place winners now have the opportunity to submit a video of their original material for selection as one of the top 15 national finalists to playoff at the finals in September. — APL
