belgrave bursting with buskers

Belgrave was filled with music on Saturday for the inaugural Belgrave Buskers Festival.

Organised by the Belgrave Traders Association, it was a great opportunity for local artists to hit the streets and perform to passers by as well as onlookers.

Competition was fierce with over 30 entries vying for cash prizes. Performances were split into three categories, Groups, Duos and Solo performances. Buskers performed throughout the town in four different sites.

The festival was a great celebration of local live music in the hills, it was great to see local community radio station, 3MDR broadcast live from downtown Belgrave.

I had the great pleasure of being one of the judges, my category Solo Performances, I was lucky to be helped by co-judges Dave Goonan (3MDR), Jenny Biddle (Busker of the Year) and Kieran Dennis(Burrinja).

There was enormous diversity in the acts making it a hard task to pick winners, but after much conversation and evaluation by the judges, a list of winners was announced for the day.

Here's first place Solo performer winner, Bryce Turcato with me and my fellow judge Dave Goonan. Bryce gave an amazing performance using a loop pedal, bass guitar and french horn he played some great tunes and it was his first public performance ever, he's got a great future!

In first place:
Group: Folk Train
Duo: Le Toot
Solo: Bryce Turcato

In second place:
Group: Fat Chance
Duo: Sista Suite
Solo: Sally Carter

In third place:
Group: Chestnut Street Orchestra
Duo: Jen & Hen
Solo: Ziggy Pop

My congratulations to organisers, I look forward to the Belgrave Buskers Festival become an annual event in the Hills calendar.