THOUSANDS will listen to the sweet voice of Rachel Tidbury at the Shoalhaven River Festival later this year.
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The 15-year-old Mollymook singer stood out at Friday’s Shoalhaven Unearthed Open Mic Night at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre as part of the National Youth Week celebrations across the South Coast.
Judges were blown away with her acoustic versions of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy, Bring Me the Horizon’s Sleepwalking and Sam Smith’s Latch.
Miss Tidbury said she was excited by the prospect of singing in front of a large audience in October.
“It’s a little nerve wracking, but I have a few songs in my repertoire I hope people will enjoy,” she said.
“I’ve been singing pretty much all my life and I started playing guitar about four or five years ago.
“I wanted to be a solo singer and accompany myself which I why I learned the guitar.”
Miss Tidbury said she spent a lot of time performing at school, at ensembles and even local venues.
“I do a lot of Southern Stars and I’m involved in the Illawarra South East ensemble where we go to nine or so schools each term to perform,” she said.
“I’m also part of a local show called the Entertainers with singers, dancers and a band and I’ve also done gigs at the Ulladulla Oyster Bar where there are always people supporting me.
“I also perform at school musicals and at assemblies.”
Miss Tidbury said she draws her musical inspiration from Australia’s own Missy Higgins.
“She’s her own artist, an individual and I really respect that,” she said.
“She has done so well during her career and has become a really big star but she still seems so down to earth.”
The talented singer said her career aim is to pursue music.
“I would like to be involved in musical theatre,” she said.
“Maybe just as far as Sydney, but I’d like to stretch that even further and maybe even go to New York and possibly have a go at Broadway.”
Aden Spencer, 15, was another young artist who had the crowd pumping at Shoalhaven Unearthed with his electric and acoustic guitar and powerful, riveting voice.