By Lucy Waldron
The diverse sounds of music filled the air along the main street of Stanthorpe as the South East Queensland Finals of the National Busking Championships took centre stage during the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival.
From rock to country, and the guitar to the didgeridoo, every ten steps brought forth a different melody, captivating the hundreds of festival-goers who gathered from near and far to witness the spectacle.
As performers showcased their talents, crowds gathered around, enthralled by the diverse range of acts on display. From seasoned professionals to budding artists, the streets of Stanthorpe echoed with the soul-stirring tunes of musicians vying for recognition.
The highlight of the event was the eagerly anticipated winners concert held at the Stanthorpe Civic Centre, where nearly 400 eager spectators awaited to cheer on the talents of 2024.
Apple and Grape Festival Committee Vice President Samantha Wantling said they are aiming to take out the Australian Busking Awards for the sixth time in a row.
“We have never seen such diversity in the seven years we have been doing this,” Samantha said.
“And we have had some amazing local talent which is great to see because they are why we hold these events, to allow their budding talent to grow.”
Kicking off the concert was the internationally recognised band, Nine Year Sister, whose roots trace back to Stanthorpe. Then it was on to the buskers to battle it out for the title.
The standout winners were:
Best Duo: Triple Base (1st Place), Boom Bros (2nd Place)
Best Band: Sloan Family Band (1st Place), Barred for Life (2nd Place)
Primary Category: Sakura Wright (1st Place), Hannah Marshall (2nd Place)
Secondary Category: Noah Robertson (1st Place), Amy Ryan (2nd Place), Ryon Gibson (3rd Place)
Open Category: Jahmarley Dawson (1st Place), Adam Warren (2nd Place), Amanda Heartsong (3rd Place)
People’s Choice: Jahmarley Dawson (1st Place), Britney Reibelt (2nd Place), Noah Robertson (3rd Place)
Additionally, special judges’ awards were presented to Zac Hart, Andrew Ryan, Balancing Man, and Granite Support Services for their outstanding contributions to the event.
This only kicks off the Apple and Grape Harvest Festival, there are so much more talent and events on offer over the next 10 days, so watch out and get involved.
The Apple and Grape Festival Committee also donated $1000 to a local busking family who lost their loving partner and father of six last week to a tree-felling accident.
