Cam Dawson performing at the Nelson regional final of Smokefree Rockquest 2016.

Garin musician makes national Rockquest final

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Nelson musician Cam Dawson is set to follow in the footsteps of Broods at the Smokefree Rockquest national finals in Auckland on September 24.

The blind Garin student placed second in the solo duo section of the 2014 Smokefreerockquest final but after boarding at Garin College this year to focus on his music, he is back again.

Cam, originally from Blenheim plays keyboard and describes his music as varied in style.

The finalists will play off in front of a sold-out crowd on Saturday, September 24 at the Raye Freedman Centre at Epsom Girls Grammar.

The two other solo acts Cam will be playing against are Auckland’s singer/songwriter Iris G and Manukau’s Sonatane Kaufusi who also plays the keyboard.

The top six bands chosen for the finals are Alien Weaponry, O-Boy!, Daffodils, Half Eaten Pie, AhJeez and Retrospect.

Smokefreerockquest judge Timon Martin says the top acts all had an originality of vision.

“For New Zealand music to make an impact both at home and overseas, we need to cultivate a unique identity, and the artists we picked really showed a strong sense of that, no matter the genre. For us, they represented a bright future for creativity in New Zealand music.”

Prizes for the winning bands and soloists include $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers, a $20,000 NZ On Air recording, video and promo package, a ‘Decent Exposure’ campaign on The Edge TV, a photo shoot and branding package from Imaginary Friends.