The best of them later headed to the Longford Function Centre to contest a final comprising four sections: plugged, unplugged, under-14 and Tex Morton renditions.
As the crowd sipped hot soup, wine or beer, competitors donned accordions, banjos, fiddles and guitars.
Some, such as Jackson Larrivee (13), of Te Anau, were attended by a mum ("Do you need your hat?"); others, such as Imogen Highfield (5, of Lumsden) needed a bit more coaxing before bow scraped string.
Dave, Dad and Bro' (Dave Reid, of Oamaru, Brian Kemmard, of Nightcaps, and Henry Makoare, of Mataura), needed little encouragement, their ridiculous yet hilarious song about a chicken and its ultimate fate earning them a first prize of $1000 in the plugged section.
Henry, celebrating with a cigarette outside after the event, admitted he did not quite know how the trio had achieved the result, although he gave the impression the night had only just begun.
Results of the Freeze Ya Bits Off busking competition.-
Plugged: Dave, Dad and Bro', 1; the Nelson Hillbillys, 2.
Unplugged: Lolly Scamble,1; Skelm, 2.
Under-14: Freezian Fiddlers, 1; Rita and Shanley, 2.
Tex Morton: Rude Jude and the Whoodie Whoodies, 1; Mitchell Smith, 2.
