Australia's country music stars of the future may well have been unearthed in Cessnock last weekend.
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The second annual Reg Lindsay Memorial Talent Quest at East Cessnock Bowling Club on March 10 was a great success, attracting quality musicians aged five to over-65 from across the state.
Newcastle's Louis Burt took out the grand prize of a two-track recording-produced by Roy Cooper from Sound Lab Studio on the Central Coast, plus 500 CDs to use for promotions.
Burt, 24, won the adult male section with his version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama to earn his place in the grand final, which he took out with his cover of Morgan Evans's Kiss Somebody.
Burt said he was stunned but excited to win the quest.
"I'm very appreciative of the judges decisions. The other performers were extremely talented, so it was a tough competition," he said.
"Everyone involved was so nice though, so it made it a little less daunting to get up on stage."
Burt will be writing songs for his CD in between studying for his PhD in education at the University of Newcastle.
He has also been offered many gigs around the Hunter since winning the quest, and is looking forward to performing at the Remembering Reg concert at next year's Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Abernethy singer Trinity Woodhouse won two sections – the 11-16 years ago group and the open original country song category for Me and Sandy (which she co-wrote with Allan Caswell).
The 14-year-old said she was overwhelmed with the results.
"It was awesome to know that I am starting to get better at the thing that I love, and that the hard work I put into my songwriting and singing is starting to pay off," she said.
Reg Lindsay's widow Ros organised the talent quest to honour the mentoring and guidance her husband gave to up-and-coming country singers.
She said a great day was had by all at this year's quest, and that it will return to the club in 2019, with planning to start in a few weeks' time to make it even bigger and better.
SECTION WINNERS
- 10-years and under: winner, Sam Thompson; runner-up Mieke Williscroft
- 11-16 years: winner, Trinity Woodhouse; runner-up, Todd Haywood
- Gospel: winner, Tracey Rowland; runner-up, Brooke Thompson.
- Instrumental: winner, Brayden Rowland; runner-up, Troy Rowland.
- Adult female 17-years-plus : winner, Sharon Salter; runner-up, Susan Tull.
- Adult male 17-years-plus: winner, Louis Burt; runner-up, Bruce Watson.
- Duo/group: winner, Bill and Tracey Rowland; runner-up, Brooke and Sam Thompson.
- Comedy: winner, Bill Rowland; runner-up, Todd Haywood.
- Original country song: winner, Trinity Woodhouse (Me and Sandy); runner-up, Bill Rowland (Growing Old).