Buskers’ big chance at Autumn Festival

Sep 30 2008 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

RISING performers are being given the chance to display their talents at this season’s Pitlochry Autumn Festival.

On each of the 17 evenings spanning the event, buskers are due to take to the streets of Highland Perthshire to entertain music fans.

From Friday, October 17, festival organisers will ask the public to vote for their top busker every night, with the winning artist gaining a listing on an official website plugging the attraction, which is timed to dovetail with the spectacular Enchanted Forest event at Faskally, and other seasonal activities.

Pitlochry Autumn Festival stewards will also choose their own favourite each night, with a cash prize of £10 and a web listing going to the winner.

The best performers will be invited to appear on one of the festival’s closing two nights on Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2.

“The final Friday and Saturday are organised as special street festivals,” competition organiser Martin Anderson told Music Scene yesterday.

“The Friday is around Halloween, which we believe will attract locals as well as holidaymakers and Enchanted Forest goers.

“The final Saturday is again organised as a big street festival with fireworks going off at 7.30pm.

“The people who will be putting on our fireworks are the same people who do the Edinburgh Hogmanay Festival display so it should be a big night in many ways.”

Mr Anderson said he hopes both closing evenings will attract large crowds - and potentially rich pickings for the competing buskers.

The winner of the overall Busker of the Festival prize stands to earn the chance to perform on Heartland FM and with music legend Dougie McLean during his Perthshire Amber festival, as well as gig slots at local venues.