ONCE again Kilmore’s Regional Busking Championship delivered on live entertainment with local and regional performers throwing their hat into the ring along Sydney Street on Saturday.
Historically, its organisers wanted to introduce an event to complement the annual Kilmore Art Expo and research revealed the Australian National Busking Championships could be a good fit. Operating under their banner, Kilmore’s chapter is into its seventh year.
Rotarian Rose King said: “It’s particularly good for younger rural and regional performers who don’t have many avenues to show and develop their talent. [It’s] a perfect fit for Rotary as it fulfils our wish to be supportive to all in our community and in particular to help our youth along.”
This year contestants performed in true busking style relocating to 18 individual stages to find a new crowd to perform for and later at the awards ceremony the finalists performed again in a free outdoor concert at the Red Lion Hotel.
Kilmore Racing Club People’s Choice award was presented to Fire Opals (Charlie and Amber Canning, a rock and metal duo from Melbourne). The siblings also received a wildcard entry into the National’s Grand Final.
In the open category, Wallan band Presley Davis Jnr’s James Cisco on lead vocals and acoustic guitar and Paul Slattery on vocals and electric guitar won $1000 sponsored by Bendigo Community Bank, and a bonus Best Band award [$500] sponsored by The Guitar Room.
Former Assumption College student Sarah Baldwin-Potton entered the competition for the first time as a soloist playing acoustic guitar and during the day and at the finals concert, she performed an original “All the parts of us.”
The judges loved it and Sarah received a $750 prize sponsored by NVC Precast and also third place in the Kilmore Racing Clubs People Choice award [$200].
Third place went to Bones Radden [Brunswick resident Matilda Caffery] sponsored by Broadstead Estate [$500] and the runner-up prize went to Warrnambool resident Claire Charlottes sponsored by The Meat Room [$200].
In the secondary category Not my Lane also performed covers and originals and Mortgage Choice Kilmore awarded the performers appearing in the secondary category for the first time with a $600 prize. The Eltham act appeared as Lucais and Lila in last year’s competition.
Assumption College student Edith Marchant, a soloist Epiphone guitar player, held her audience captive with classical vocals and she was rewarded with $450 in prize money sponsored by Paul Maginn Lawyers.
Third place was awarded to Kilmore’s’ Immy Canning [$250 sponsored by Buxton Outer North] and also a bonus second place in the Kilmore Racing Clubs People Choice award [$300]. Runner-up Ella Awakening received $100 sponsored by Kilmore Ice Cream.
In the primary category, Otis Rodrigues received first prize [$300], sponsored by Australian Cultural Heritage Management, and Lara came second with a $100 prize sponsored by Wheel House Bikes.
A variety of buskers captured the judges’ attention and thanks to the generosity of local businesses $200 was awarded to each of the following acts: Best Street Performances’ sponsored by the Review and NVC Precast went to The Bronze Citizen and Braydon J Taylor respectively. The Best Singer Guitarist (sponsored by Assumption College) went to Mick Dagger, Best vocals (sponsored by Macs Irish Hotel) went to Tilly, and Best Community Music act (sponsored by Sky Accounting) went to the WhittleC Ukes.
The following businesses supported the second best street performances with $100 in prize money and the winners were Old Irish for executing a buskers organ (sponsored by Kilmore Property Transfer) and The Street Art Union’s puppets act sponsored by Pat Croke Furniture. Andrew Nic received a $50 encouragement award for rapping sponsored by Harvest Door Café.
Judge Allan Spencer said: “Every time I come to Kilmore, I am blown away by the talent, and I’ve been coming here for five years.”
A fun fact is that this year’s winning Australian Idol contestant Kesha Oayda began her career in busking and other advise from the judges including picking songs that were age appropriate.
Presley David Jnr., Not my Lane, and Otis Rodrigues and wildcard winner, Fire Opal, all qualify to compete in the Australian National Busking Championship to be held in Cooma in NSW on Sunday, November 15.
