Busking competition attracting talented acts ahead of inaugural Queenstown Blues & Roots Festival

A number of talented acts have flocked to enter a busking competition which will see the winner play on the main stage at the first Queenstown Blues & Roots Festival to be held on Saturday April 26 2014.

Organisers of the inaugural festival launched the competition just two weeks ago and have already received a number of applications from a variety of acts including solo artists, duos and bands.
Queenstown Blues & Roots Festival director Grant Hilton said there had been “good levels of interest” in the competition so far and was looking forward to the up-coming heats.
“The feedback so far has been amazing and really positive, yet we’re still looking for more entries from anywhere in the country,” said Mr Hilton.

“We’d love to make this a hotly-contended competition and showcase some of our best buskers. If you can get to Queenstown for the heats and you’re talented then you’re in,” he said.
“It’s such a great opportunity for a band or talented up-and-coming musician to gain exposure in front of a huge audience of music lovers and perform with some of the world’s best acts.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and dream come true for someone.
“We’re looking for original acts with that wow factor,” he said.
The Queenstown Busking Competition heats will take place on Wednesday April 2 and Wednesday April 9 from 7pm at Queenstown’s Pig & Whistle Pub with the finalists from each night going through to a grand finale on Easter Saturday.

The overall winner will be announced that evening and the competition will be judged by two – yet-to-be-named expert judges.

Interested performers can enter by visiting www.queenstownbluesrootsfestival.co.nz then downloading and completing the application form. Entries close at the end of March.
The lucky winner will perform at the festival on the main stage as the first act alongside musical legends such as Elvis Costello and The Imposters and The Doobie Brothers who will headline the event.
The one-day outdoor event will be held at the Queenstown Events Centre - with The Remarkables mountain range forming a lofty backdrop – and features a stunning line-up of acclaimed national and international acts.

New Zealand’s favourite live collaborative group Fly My Pretties, dub, funk, afrobeat and soul masters The Black Seeds, veteran blues musician King Leo and all-girl group The Johnnys, who deliver Johnny Cash songs “like no-one’s heard ‘em before” will also perform.

The non-stop, full production music festival – scheduled to kick off from 11am with the first act on stage from 12 noon – will see up to 15,000 people enjoying the very best in blues, soul and rock and roll accompanied by an exciting array of local food, beer, wine and market stalls.

Tickets for the first Queenstown Blues & Roots Festival are available through the website www.queenstownbluesrootsfestival.co.nz, or by contacting 0800 BLUESQT (0800 2583778)