Organisers of a busking competition - the winner of which will perform on the main stage at next month's Blues & Roots Festival - are looking for entries from across New Zealand. Heats will begin in the resort next week.
Festival director Grant Hilton said several talented acts had entered the competition following its launch earlier this month, offering a ''once-in-a-lifetime chance'' for the winner.
''We'd love to make this a hotly-contended competition and showcase some of our best buskers.
''If you can get to Queenstown for the heats and you're talented, you're in,'' Mr Hilton said.
''It's such a great opportunity for a band or talented up-and-coming musician to gain exposure in front of a huge audience of music lovers and perform with some of the world's best acts.''
The winner of the competition would perform as the first act at the inaugural festival alongside musicians including Elvis Costello and the Imposters and headline act the Doobie Brothers.
The one-day outdoor event, being held at the Queenstown Events Centre, will also feature Fly My Pretties, The Black Seeds, King Leo and The Johnnys.
Mr Hilton said Queenstown Busking Competition heats would be held on April 2 and April 9 at the Pig & Whistle in Queenstown from 7pm.
Finalists from each night would go through to a grand finale being held on Easter Saturday, April 19.
The overall winner would be announced that night by the judges, who have yet to be named.
''We're looking for original acts with that wow factor,'' Mr Hilton said.
• Interested performers can enter online at www.queenstownbluesrootsfestival.co.nz.
Entries close at the end of this month.
