Attention all budding singers – mark the weekend of March 5 and 6 on your calendar.

The first annual Reg Lindsay Country Talent Quest will be staged at East Cessnock Bowling Club that weekend, with excellent prizes up for grabs.

The grand champion will receive a recording session with Steve Newton of Enrec Studio Tamworth, with the chance to record a two-track CD and have 500 discs produced for them, courtesy of East Cessnock Bowling Club – the home of the Reg Lindsay “Standing Tall” bronze statue.

The statue was unveiled at the club on March 7 last year, honouring the country music legend who lived in Kearsley for many years before his death in 2008.

Reg’s widow Ros has effectively retired from running the Reg Lindsay Rodeo and Music Reunion – which ran for 21 years – meaning she has more time to concentrate on Reg’s music, releasing some of his material recorded in Nashville.

Ros, who now lives at Spring Ridge (near Tamworth), said she has organised the talent quest to continue Reg’s legacy of promoting new talent – as he did on his own television show.

The talent quest will start at 10am each day. Sections include junior (10-years and under) male/female, youth (11-16-years) male/female, adult (17-years and over) male/female, gospel song open, group/duo open and original song open.

All contestants will sing a country song and the winners of each section will have a sing-off for a chance at the grand champion prize.

There will be trophies and prizes for first and second place in each section. Different songs will be performed by each contestant once they make it to the final.

Cost to enter is just $10 per section; and for the audience, tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for pensioners and free for children under 10-years.

The entertainment will go all weekend with The Summerland Kings and Norm Bakker raging on stage with their blues/rock ‘n’ roll show.

There will be a lucky door prize plus raffles over the weekend, and all ages are welcome.

Entry forms for the talent quest are available by emailing info@reglindsay.com.au or phone 0412 967 863 for more information.

Take a look back at the Reg Lindsay Standing Tall bronze statue unveiling ceremony at East Cessnock Bowling Club in the gallery below: