Masterton band narrowly misses smokefreerockquest final | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

A Masterton college band has narrowly missed being named national finalists in this year's smokefreerockquest.

Back to the Remedy, made up of pupils from Wairarapa and Rathkeale colleges, made it to the shortlist of 22 young bands and performers from across New Zealand, from which a final count of eight was selected.

The band won the 2010 Wairarapa smokefreerockquest and also took the Lowdown Best Song Award at the Masterton contest.

Kuranui College band Artificial Sun finished second in the regional final.

The 2010 smokefreerockquest had 3000 entrants, 23 regional finals and a record 800 bands, with the eight finalists covering a range of musical genres and a regional spread across New Zealand, event director Glenn Common said.

The national final will be held at Hamilton's Founders Theatre on September 11.

Two Waikato bands feature in the top eight, Dinosaur Goes Rawr (DGR) and The Good Fun, who will play off for the national title against Custard Bear from Canter
bury, the Peasants of Eden from Nelson, Te Paamu from Otaki, two Auckland singer songwriters, Kriston Batistich and Massad Barakat-Devine, and Bay of Plenty four-piece Malcolm Jack.

Mr Common commended the 22 bands that made the national shortlist and said all had reached a very high standard.