FOR 16-year-old Matt Barratt, performing on stage in front of a crowd of thousands for the very first time was a big enough achievement.
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But to top it all off he was crowned People's Choice winner at the Toyota Best of the Buskers grand final on Sunday night during the 50th Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The Tamworth local won the popular vote by just four points, snagging himself a brand-new Yamaha guitar.
"It means the world to me and so did sharing the big Toyota stage with those incredibly talented musicians, it was certainly an experience I will never forget," he said.
"Thanks to everyone who voted for me... it's my first time on an actual stage so this is an incredible achievement for me.
"Just being on the stage was awesome enough for me, let alone winning."
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Brisbane's Jacob Vincent was crowned champion by a panel of judges, taking home $2000 and two paid gigs at the Courthouse Hotel during next year's festival.
Western Sydney's Divinia Jean took out second place and Greenbank's Jarrod Wrigley, featuring Tyla Rodrigues placed third.
The remaining top ten buskers walked away with $200 each.
More than 200 buskers performed at this year's festival and the competition has a rich history in Tamworth helping to launch the careers of country music icons such as Troy Cassar-Daley and Keith Urban.
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