Forbes Has Talent Quest will be held on Sunday, August 4, with the primary goal of finding local musicians and singers to perform at the upcoming Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival.

People of all ages, with an interest in any musical style, are invited to participate in the quest on the deck of the Sports and Recreation Club.

Sports and Recreation Club secretary / manager and festival ‘minister’ Lyn Ford, said the judges will be looking for talented locals to perform on the main stage at the October 24-27 event.

Ms Ford said organisers have now confirmed the presence of two visiting musical groups at the community cultural festival, but would like locals to fill the bill.

“We want anyone who feels they have talent to come along and perform,” Ms Ford said.

“Everyone should have a chance to perform and that’s what we want to do – to give everyone that opportunity.

“The festival will have limited opportunities on the main stage, but if we get too many people wanting to try out, we will hold another [talent quest] as required.”

“The Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival has Stormcellar booked and Ukes of Hazzard, and neither are mainstream artists.

“We are trying to show that music and art isn’t just mainstream, you can be off-centre, be popular and have something really good to offer,” Ms Ford said.

Mitchell Conservatorium is co-hosting the event with the festival board, the Sports and Recreation Club and Bundaburrah Music.

Conservatorium Lachlan division director Andrew Baker said the judges will be looking for talent from all musical worlds.

“It’s for amateur musicians really. We are not looking for professional musicians, although they are welcome to apply, but it is really for musicians from the local community or from the regions, who would like a shot at performing on the main stage,” Mr Baker said.

“It’s open to anyone – from country, rock, jazz, classical genres and whether they are a singer or play an instrument,” he said.

Mr Baker said the talent quest would have an informal setting, with musicians asked to perform acoustically, with a keyboard provided for the musician or accompanist to play.

Talent quests are prevalent on our TV screens, Mr Baker said, and following Celia Pavey’s success on The Voice, the festival ministry thought it was a democratic way of determining festival content.

“There are buckets of talent quests on the TV, and we just thought it was a good way to bolster the music contribution to the festival, and let the people have a crack at the big stage,” he said.

“It’s also a good learning experience for the performers.

“It’s a multi-layered approach - the festival is very much open and free to the community, so that is a good way of letting the community members have access to the event, if you like.”

Anyone considering appearing at the talent quest is able to download a flyer from the festival website, www.riverartsfestival.org.au.