Byron Bluesfest buskers Bridget and Monica Brandolini on song

International drawcards like veteran Tom Jones aren’t the only names making a big noise at the annual Byron bluesfest.

Sisters Monica (13) and Bridget (16) Brandolini won the 'Gromet Busking Contest' - under 18's at the Byron Bay Bluesfest.

Bridget and Monica Brandolini began their quest as back-up singers to their older siblings. Yesterday, the sisters struck out on their own, performing at the annual Bluesfest in Byron Bay under their duo name, Maple.

Bridget, 16, and Monica, 13, from Clunes near Byron Bay, won the busking competition for under-18s and got to perform alongside international drawcards yesterday including Noel Gallagher and Jackson Browne.

“Our aim is to get as big locally as we can,” said Bridget. “We’ve done lots of busking and gigs at the local farmers market.”

The duo’s original music is ­influenced by Australian acts such as Missy Higgins and Meg Mac, but they have been inspired this weekend by some of the headline acts at the five-day Bluesfest, such as hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar, The National and D’Angelo. They are about to record their first EP. “We are just taking it as it comes,” said Bridget.

Bluesfest promoter Peter Noble said it was important to keep the festival connected to the local community through programs such as the busking competition, as well as having more established local artists on the main bill. “We have gone out of our way this year to book local successful artists such as Ash Grunwald and Tex Perkins,” Noble said.

The festival, in its 27th year, has broadened its brief in recent years to include much more than blues and roots music, as the presence of Lamar and today’s headliner, Tom Jones, demonstrates.

Other highlights over the weekend included performances by the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, Reggae stalwarts The Wailers and US rockers Eagles of Death Metal, the band at the centre of the terrorist attack at the Bataclan in Paris in November.

Yesterday’s attendance of about 22,000 was the highest of the weekend, despite heavy rain turning the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm site into a soggy affair.

About 18,000 are expected for the final day today, which feat­ures the veterans Jones, Brian Wilson and Russell Morris.