Wide range of acts to perform at buskers festival
SATURDAY’S inaugural South Dunedin Buskers Festival will see performers out in force in King Edward St.
Featuring solo musicians, bands, and even a circus act, the event has been organised by the South Dunedin Street Festival Steering Group and the South Dunedin Business Association.
The festival will begin at 10am, with performances running until 2pm, followed by the prizegiving at 2.30pm.
Buskers will be performing across multiple stage areas in front of King Edward St shops which are mostly closed on a Saturday. Each act will take to the stage twice throughout the day, South Dunedin Business Association chairman Craig Waterhouse says.
A 30minute time slot will provide performers with five minutes to set up, 15 to 20 minutes of performance time and another five to pack up.
The lineup for the South Dunedin Busking Festival includes local acts Valley Bluegrass, Both Sides of the Line, Steve King and Henare Matere.
Although performers do not have to enter the competition aspect of the event to participate on the day, most have.
Inspired by a similar busking festival in Melbourne, the event will have three judges on hand to review the day’s performances: Rochelle Broughey, Scott Muir, and Robin Johnston.
Their decisions will be announced at a prizegiving ceremony and afternoon tea at the Dunedin Gasworks Museum following the festival at 2.30pm.
Performers will need to attend the prizegiving to be eligible to win, otherwise the prize will be passed on to someone else.
Prizes for the competition have been sponsored by local businesses and organisations, including Laser Plumbing, Project Dental, Alex Campbell Menswear, Veggie Boys, Bernina Centre, and the South Dunedin Business Association.
The prizes include $100 for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place for individual buskers. The group prizes are $300 for first, $200 for second and $100 for third.
Entries are divided into musicians under 13, musicians aged 13 to 18, solo performers over 18, groups, and circus arts performers.
The Night Noodle Markets are also being held down the road at the Kensington Oval later in the afternoon, meaning festival attendees can check out another local event afterwards.
There is free entry to the South Dunedin Buskers Festival for all supporters and visitors, but of course donations can be given to the performers.
While the South Dunedin Busking Festival is being organised by the same two organisations behind the popular South Dunedin Street Festival, it does not replace that event, which will return on Saturday, November 4.
South Dunedin Buskers Festival: King Edward St, South Dunedin. From 10am to 2pm on Saturday, followed at 2.30pm by a prizegiving ceremony and afternoon tea at the Dunedin Gasworks Museum, 20 Braemar St. For more information on the day’s activities and programme, visit www.southdunedin.org.nz