Country music newcomer and busker Hudson Rose didn't expect to be asked to be signing ukeleles and playing the biggest stage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival this year.
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The 16-year-old from Taree, NSW, whose real name is Georgia Hudson, came to the festival three years ago with a dream to one day take to the Toyota Park Stage where she will play on Sunday night after making the busking competition finals.
"I just kind of screamed I was like 'oh my goodness!'" Hudson told AAP, after finding out she'd made the cut.
"I didn't expect it was only going to be three years later. It's a dream come true I can't wait."
Hudson's mum Donna said the pair watched Male Artist of the Year Golden Guitar winner Travis Collins on the stage just days before, who also started as a busker.
"He had some amazing messages about it's not about the money, it's not about you, when you perform it's definitely about other people," she said.
Another finalist, indigenous busker Ziggy McNeill from Sydney, said he feeds off the kindness from those watching and the energy of the festival.
"People appreciate it here. In Tamworth everyone says hello to you ... I think that's a big difference in everyday life," he told AAP.
He praised the competition for what it has done for him and others.
"It supports busking, people come from all over the place to go in this competition and I finally after four years got into the final."
Though not in the competition yet nine-year-old Amy Ryan from Chambers Flat, south of Brisbane, stepped up to the challenge of her first year busking.
"You get to have fun and sing in front of people while you are doing it," she said.
Her dad Andrew said, "she just loves it, she loves playing music and she just loves being amongst people".
The busking competition finals will take place on Sunday night, the final evening of the festival.
Australian Associated Press
