First time performers to seasoned veterans shared the spotlight along Gympie Terrace last Saturday on a spectacular sunny day for the Noosa National Busking Championship.
Filled with enthusiasm, some pushing aside a few nerves, they moved between stages to their allotted time slots carrying drums, guitars, keyboards and even a piano accordion before setting up and letting loose in front of the roving crowd.
Among them was Norm Stacey, 71, of Cooroy. Having never performed in public before, apart from singing with the Noosa Chorale and a volunteer stint at a local cafe, Norm decided to take along his guitar and give it a shot.
It was also a first time performance for a group of Albany Creek State High School students. Nervous as anything, the group, calling themselves Roach Toaster took up position and belted out a few classic 80s tunes to some enthusiastic applause.
Livvi Webster of Alexandra Headlands has been busking down the Sunshine Coast for a few years. Having played piano since the age of five, Livvi took up the guitar during Covid, which she played at the competition in what judge John Beaufoy described as a “beautiful set with a good voice”.
Ivan Blanco of Noosa was inspired by his father, Jose Blanco, to become a musician. “My dad was a Spanish musician. He used to play all the restaurants,” he said. Ivan style, though, is more diverse with a mix of Spanish, rock and beatbox.
A regular event performer Niq Reefman entertained the crowd with his piano accordion interspersed with a little whistling. “My father used to whistle on his way to work and back. It’s like a smile,” he told the audience. “We should all whistle more.”
A recent arrival to the Sunshine Coast from Fiji, Samuela Konusi Taukave or SkillzFJ as he is known, has performed around the world including at the Sydney Opera House.
SkillzFJ entered the busking championship with an array of instruments including drums, guitar and ukulele and entertained the crowd.
There were 49 acts in the Noosa competition vying for a range of prizes and places, decided by a group of roving judges and the public which entered their votes in the People’s Choice Awards.
