QMF hunt for rising acts in Foot-in-the-Door and busking opportunities

THE Queenscliff Music Festival (QMF) is on the hunt for a rising band or solo artist ready to get their Foot-in-the-Door, as well as talented performers who can light up the streets of Queenscliff.

The Foot-in-the-Door competitions are held annually as part of the QMF’s Youth Program.

The genre-specific, battle-of-the-bands style competition is aimed at emerging artists between the ages of 12 and 25, and is a huge opportunity to have bands and artists take the stage in front of the festival audience.

Performers will battle it out this November for audience votes, and the act with the most crowd support may win their way onto the QMF 2026 lineup.

This year will see two genre-based competitions: Rock (which can include hip hop but cannot be metal, emo, hardcore “and other genres that don’t fit into the ‘Queenscliff Music Festival style’”) and Folk & Blues (folk, blues, world, jazz, pop, “singer/songwriter types”).

Applicants must have a set with at least 15 minutes of original material.

Foot-in-the-Door applications close on Monday, September 22.

For the buskers, QMF is welcoming “a diverse mix of acts that help create the magic… from solo singers and acoustic duos to jugglers, comedians, and everything in between”.

All buskers will be scheduled on either or both of November 29 and November 30 between 10 am and 4 pm, and can busk as much as they choose at their allocated location for their timeslot of between three hours to six hours.

QMF patrons can submit votes online for their favourite busker, with the winner also in the running to play at QMF in 2026.

Busking applications close on October 17.

For more information, head to qmf.net.au