Geelong’s best busking competition is back

The streets are the perfect platform for unsigned artists to showcase their hidden talents, and this December, Geelong is the main stage.

On December 17, the return of Geelong’s Best Busking Competition is giving local performers the platform to perform to a previously untapped regional audience.

The competition is designed to be a stepping-stone for up-and-coming unsigned artists with countless prizes available for the performers.

Through a series of showdowns, musicians and street performers from the Geelong area will perform at various locations around the city for the chance to take out the coveted prizes and the title of Geelong’s Best Busker.

The annual regional event, which started in 2016, is run by local musician Steve Thew, along with support and sponsorship from the City Of Greater Geelong, Tourbus Entertainment, Lukey Music, and Stan Designs.

“We’ve had all sorts of winners, from tap dancers, to musicians, and all age groups, we’ve had bands, and we’ve had up to about 150 contestants over the six years we’ve been going,” Thew said.

“This year we’re having it all on one day, a week before Christmas on the 17th of December, and we’ve got 20 contestants at the moment from all ages, from 9 up.”

The event will spread out across the Geelong CBD with performances happening at about 14 locations on the day across Little Malop Street, Malop Street West and the Geelong foreshore.

As the competition will be held close to Christmas, Thew said the day was sure to be festive and anyone wanting to watch the music could plan their day to visit multiple venues across the CBD, or set up at one location and enjoy the festivities.

“Previously we’ve had it just in one spot on Little Malop Street, but this year we want people to wander right throughout Little Malop Street, from the Francesco bit right through to the foreshore, and being a week out from Christmas, there’s going to be a lot of activity.”

The day will end with an awards ceremony at Beav’s Bar, when the event’s winners will be announced.

First prize is a voucher to the value of $500 from Tourbus Entertainment, second prize is a paid gig to the value of $200 from Geelong Jazz Soirees, and third prize is a paid gig from Lukey’s Music Geelong to the value of $100.

Several other vouchers, including lunch vouchers to the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, will also be awarded,

The event will run on December 17 from 9am-5pm.

To perform, apply via email to [email protected], phone 0400 028 854 or head to the Geelong’s Best Busker page on Facebook.