Year 11 trio win top title at Rockquest

Otago Daily Times

29-06-2025

Deaf Raccoon band members (from left) Christopher Body, 16, Leo Hill, 15, and Jamie Bradfield, 15, after taking the top spot at the Smokefree Rock Quest on Saturday. Photo: Kelsey Frost
Dunedin band Deaf Raccoon are crediting lunchtime jam sessions for their success after taking top honours at a regional battle of the bands competition at the weekend.
On Saturday, the John McGlashan College three-piece were shocked to hear they had beaten 14 other bands to win the Dunedin regional Smokefreerockquest final.
The programme, now in its 37th year, sees bands, soloists and duos from Whangarei to Invercargill fight it out for a spot in the national final.
The band is comprised of year 11 students Christopher Body, Leo Hill and Jamie Bradfield.
Christopher said the three-piece were "buzzing", but also very surprised.
"We were all just really confused as to how we won — all the other bands are so talented ... I just thought we had no chance."
Christopher plays bass and provides back-up vocals, Leo does the main vocals and guitar and Jamie is the drummer.
Deaf Raccoon band members (from left) Leo Hill, Jamie Bradfield and Christopher Body perform their set for the competition. Photo: supplied
"There's always super-high tension, because we know other bands outside of Rockquest, so it seems like friendly competition, but everyone's also super-tense.
"When you get on stage of course it's nerve-racking, but afterwards it was fine," Christopher said.
He described Deaf Raccoon's genre as "indie-rock ska" and the group performed an original and untitled song, which was
written during lunchtime jam sessions in the school music room.
This was Christopher's third year playing at Smokefreerockquest, but his first with Dead Raccoon and his first since the competition was shifted from the Mayfair Theatre to the Regent Theatre.
The new venue was significantly more intimidating, Christopher said.
"It was a lot more terrifying this year — it's so much bigger ... but you can't see anything when the lights are on you, so it's fine once you're up there."
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