Buskers set to envelop Stanthorpe

Some of the best musicians, singers and entertainers from south east Queensland and northern NSW will bring music to CBD streets this Saturday.

FAVOURITES: The Haystack Mountain Hermits return to defend title. Picture: Shane Andersen

SOME of the best musicians, singers and entertainers from south east Queensland and northern NSW will bring music to CBD streets this Saturday from 9am-2pm.

The Australian National Busking Championships South East Queensland Regional Finals will be held for the fourth year in Stanthorpe and this year has brought out new talent along with some of the favourites.

The people's choice and overall open winner in 2018, The Haystack Mountain Hermits will be appearing. This group went on from Stanthorpe winners in 2018 to become Australian National Champions.

"Not only will the Hermits provide their usual high quality entertainment, they will go the extra distance to ask people to throw some money into their busking bucket as all proceeds will go to The String Family to help them with financial costs of recovery of father of the family, Joel (story page 10),” busking committee coordinator Greg Thouard said.

Felicity Kircher will make a return and after becoming the secondary age winner in Stanthorpe 2018, she went on to become National Secondary Champion and followed up with major awards at the 2019 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

"Local band Reloaded are changing from popular cabaret musicians to street performers and this will be a very special moment for the band to appear as buskers for the first time in their 50-year career,” Mr Thouard said.

"Sam Lihou will be performing again, newcomer Kathryn Radunz will have a mixed bag of well-known songs, Laura Luscombe returns, The Graniteers, GBSS performers, school choirs and dancers and a host of visiting buskers will bring music to the streets.

"Prizemoney is over $6000 for this event and sponsors have given some wonderful support for this Apple and Grape Festival off-year event.

"Fifteen busking stations will fill Maryland and High streets. The public can purchase $1 busking tokens from the busking office in Maryland St and use these tokens to vote for their People's Choice selection,” he said.

The final concert of the day, to select the regional champions, will be held in the Alley Arcade at 2.30pm and this is a free event open to the public.

Busking entries will be accepted up to Friday 22 March. Formssearch Busking Stanthorpe to download the form.