The Kilkenny 400 celebrations are to bring something a little different to the streets this year, in association with KilkennyMusic.com
The city will play host over 70 buskers and street musicians, between April and September as part of the Kilkenny Busking Competition 2009.
The aim of “Busker 2009” is simple; to find the best of Irish buskers. From April 18, one act each fortnight will win €200 as a cash prize, with the best of the acts in the competition invited back to Kilkenny at the end of September to compete for a top prize of €1,000.
The winning acts will be chosen by the public through an online vote. If you can't catch the music on the streets, then you'll be able to enjoy the competition online; thanks to an innovative touch from local music promoters, KilkennyMusic.com
“We're taking it online,” says Ken McGuire, one of the organisers along with local photographer Ross Costigan. “It’s what we've been doing for the past three years and as much as the 400 celebrations are important for the people of Kilkenny, we want to be able to open people's eyes to local and national talent on the streets of Kilkenny.”
The result is a collaboration between the Kilkenny 400 organisers and KilkennyMusic that will bring 72 buskers, across six locations on the city streets. To be in with a chance of winning, you must be registered to compete before April 18. All genres and styles are welcome but certain restrictions apply.
“For some acts it's going to be an entrance into Kilkenny so we're encouraging them to sign up, come along, bring their CDs, and introduce their music to new audiences. Given the extra promotion around the performers, hopefully it gives them the chance to raise additional revenues, more so than their average busking weekend,” says Ken.
“We want to do something different with the competition so we'll be encouraging the public to cast their votes online for their favourite act. Each weekend of the competition we'll release one song from each act and upload it through KilkennyMusic.com, where visitors can vote for their preferred choice through an online poll,” says Ross.
“We're opening the platform to all walks of music,” continues Ken, “there are certain restrictions, in that acts must be able to perform unplugged, and of course they have to be able to make it to Kilkenny on their chosen date.”
