08-02-2023
You’ve no doubt heard that the Crookwell Showground will echo with the sound of music on the night of Saturday 18 March in the form of the biggest concert spectacular ever seen in Crookwell.
But that’s not the only singing the town will be treated to that Saturday. In the morning and into the afternoon, Goulburn Street will play host to the inaugural Crookwell Country Weekend Busking Competition, presented by Upper Lachlan Shire Council in partnership with the Hume Conservatorium and Old Binda Rd Recording.
General Manager Colleen Worthy said she was excited by the talent that will be on show in the competition.
“We have some amazing singing talent in the Shire and I expect many of those singers will be keen to come on board,” she said.
“There’s a $3,000 first prize for the winner, which is a considerable amount for contests like this. The runner-up will receive two days recording at the Old Binda Road studio plus accommodation if required, and there’s a junior prize of a recording session at the Hume Conservatorium and the offer of participating in a musicianship, composition or ensemble group.
“I believe buskers will come from far and wide to take part.”
Buskers will have the opportunity to perform several times across the day.
Buskers will be judged by a prestigious panel including of multiple Tamworth Golden Guitar winner Catherine Britt, Geoff Bell of Laing Entertainment and Roger Corbett, General Manager of the Australian Country Music Academy, board member of the Country Music Association of Australia and also a founding member of the iconic Australian bush band, The Bushwackers.
Following the judges’ assessments, five finalists will be chosen who will play on the main stage at the Crookwell Showground on Sunday 19 March, from which the winner and runner-up will be chosen.
Ms Worthy said that Crookwell’s previous foray into busking was very well-received and that this was a logical next step.
“During the Share Our Streets celebrations, the buskers up and down the street created a great vibe and drew a large crowd,” she said.
“This will be a bigger deal and so we will have a few more regulations to ensure a fair competition.
“It’s hard to estimate just how many acts will enter. If we do get a massive response, there is a slim chance we may have to cull entrants and if we did that, it would be on a last-in, first-out basis, so I would strongly recommend getting your applications in early.”
The entry fee for the Busking Competition will is $20 for a solo act, $40 for a duo or $50 for a group of three or more people.
Application forms and guidelines for the competition are available below, and applications will close on Monday 20 February.
Crookwell Country Weekend is an Upper Lachlan Shire Council initiative funded by the NSW Government’s Reconnecting Regional – Community Events Program.