The Narooma Busking Championships on May 25 are part of the River of Art Festival. Photo: Supplied.
Narooma will fill with music this Saturday as 44 buskers do battle in the third Narooma Regional Busking Championships.
“It’s a great opportunity to showcase our local talent as well as see buskers from elsewhere,” says Festival Coordinator John Rungen.
“It wouldn’t happen without the support of our sponsors and volunteers, and the community on the day.”
Hosted by Narooma Rotary as part of the Australian National Busking Championships and part of the River of Art, each act taking part in Saturday’s program will perform at three or four of the 33 busker hot spots around town between 9 am and 3 pm.
Narooma business owners have sponsored spots in front of their businesses along Narooma’s main street, the Plaza and Forsters Bay, while those in outlying areas have spots on NATA Oval where there will also be large displays of new and collector cars.
A free bus will take people between the venues.
“It’s a great day where families can enjoy free entertainment from talented performers across all genres from country, blues, jazz and rock, to bagpipes, dancers, poets and belly dancers,” says Festival spokesperson Lynda Ord.
“It also attracts many from outside our area.”
A program showing hot spots with a busker timetable will be available online and on the day from information stalls opposite the Ice Creamery on the Flat and on NATA Oval, and from roving Busker Vote sellers wearing a Rotary vest.
Buskers will compete for $10,000 in prize money donated by local sponsors including Club Narooma, Narooma Golf Club, Easts Holiday Park, Ben Bate Real Estate, Montague Vets, Narooma High and Narooma Holidays.
Narooma guitarist and singer Jakob Poyner was the first to register for this year’s Narooma Busking Championships. Photo: Supplied.
“Everyone can vote for their favourite busker for the People’s Choice prize of $1,000 by buying a busker vote from our sellers for $1,” Ms Ord says.
“Each busker gets 10 cents from each $1 vote. If the purchaser writes their name on the back of each vote, they enter a lucky draw. Buskers keep any other money they collect.”
Any profits from the day go towards enhancing music and performance education in our area.
Narooma’s five judges will determine the other prizes, including the $1,000 prize for the overall winner.
Judges include Australian National Busking Championships coordinator Alan Spencer, Shelby Grace, Lindsay Brown, Fiona Brown, and yours truly.
The Festival culminates with a free busker concert at Narooma Golf Club from 4 pm followed by the prize presentation.
Winners will be invited to compete in the national final in Cooma in November.
Check the Narooma Busking website for more info.
#Ian Campbell is a judge at the Narooma Regional Busking Championships.
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