Its nearly Spring and that means the Central Coast heat of the Australian National Busking Championship is on again.
The heat will be held on Sunday, September 28, at Memorial Park, The Entrance, from 10am to 2pm with a concert of the finalists on stage at 3.30pm.
Coast FM will be broadcasting onsite throughout the day.
Erina Rotary is again organising the event and this year is raising funds for local families impacted by domestic violence, through the sale of ‘busking tokens’ on the day, plastic gold coins that you can be used to ‘vote’ for your favourite busker to help them win the People’s Choice Busker Award, with a prize of $750.
“Previous years have seen beautiful weather on this first Sunday of the Spring school holidays that bring a host of families and holiday makers to experience the talents of the busking competitors and to make their vote in the People’s Choice section of the competition by giving their favourite busker a token, or two or more,” event coordinator Fefe Morrison said.
The Australian National Busking Championships (ANBC) is an Australia-wide network of busking festivals.
The annual event celebrates the rich diversity of Australian music and street performance culture and was first held in Cooma in 2012.
Now it’s held in seven locations around the country, culminating in the national finals in Cooma each year in November where the winner of the grand final is given the title of Australian National Busking Champion along with substantial prize monies.
Central Coast winners have gone on to become the national winners in their categories each year the event has been held.
Prizes totalling $5,000 are up for grabs thanks to sponsors including Bendigo Bank and local businesses BAX audio, Kwik Kopy Gosford, Gosford Signs, Rotary Clubs and a number of individuals who help boost the recognition of individuals who devote their time, energy and enthusiasm as performers in the Central Coast region.
The judges look for how buskers personify ANBC’s message about celebrating the rich diversity of Australian music and street performance culture.
This year’s judges include ANBC CEO Alan Spencer, CoastFM presenter Rhea Northcott and previous national champions and local musicians, The James Brothers.
Categories include adult section (18+ years), secondary school aged (14-17 years) and primary school age (13 years and under).
Additional prizes are awarded for the People’s Choice and the judges’ Wild Card award.
“The theme of this year’s National Busking Festival is to encourage, mentor, promote and develop career pathways for emerging musicians and performing artists of all ages and all music genres, and it’s apparent that all the participating buskers will make a great impact on their audiences on the day,” Morrison said.
“Our Rotary Club, with the support of Central Coast Council, recognises that by hosting this regional heat here on the Central Coast we enrich our communities culturally and economically as part of a national network.
“The people of the Central Coast are very generous with their support of the buskers on the day and the closing concert, in which all the finalists perform, is a treat for everyone, including the performers who enthusiastically encourage each other, with cheers and genuine fellowship.”
The winner of each section will go to the finals being held in Cooma on November 16 to compete for the title of Australian National Busking Champion.
People can register to be a busker through the Eventbrite link: CC ANBC Busker Registration
Anyone wanting to assist with the Central Coast heat, or wanting to find out more about Rotary, is welcome to attend any meeting of the club.
Email erinarotaryclub@gmail.com
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