Busking youngsters prove they have Mount Factor

Mount Maunganui youngsters Mabel, 11, Joe, 11, and Taylor, 12, competed in the Bay News Mount Factor Busking Challenge at the weekend. Photo / Andrew Warner

Young street performers showcased their talent at the Bay News Mount Factor at the weekend.

Young people aged from 7 to 20 lined Mount Maunganui's main street as they competed in the busking challenge.

Passersby toe-tapped and head-bopped to familiar songs as they donated loose change and voted for their best act.

The top 10 buskers were selected by a panel of Mount Factor judges to move on to perform in a concert challenge on the Mainstreet deck.

Campbell MacKenzie was the overall winner and won first place in the 15-20 year category, which saw him pocket the grand prize of $1500.

Natalia George won the 7-14 years category and received $500.

Youngsters Mabel, 11, Joe, 11, and Taylor, 12, combined their talents to please the crowd and judges. Mable was on the microphone, Taylor on lead guitar and Joe kept the beat with a kajon, or "box drum".

The Mount Intermediate students had only been practising together for about five months and it was the first time any of them tried their hand at street performance.

"We were in Bandquest and we thought we sounded pretty good together so we started jamming a little bit and now we're here," said Joe. Mount Mainstreet manager Peter Melgren was impressed with performers and the public response. "It was absolutely fabulous. There are some very clever people out there," he said.

"This is an event designed to provide an opportunity for young performers to gain experience, confidence and perhaps make a little money."

Runners up in the 7-14 years category were Tenneille Davis, who won $300, and Sam Lord, Ben Price and Kanoa Slater who won $150. Runners up in the 15-20 years category were Stella Affleck, who won $300, and Aleisha and Josh Hulbert who were awarded $150.