‘Stoked’ to be in Funday Sunday final at NZ Blues & BBQ Festival

Gisborne muso Jed Skuse is one of seven finalists in a competition being run as part of the New Zealand Blues and BBQ Festival in Rotorua this weekend. Picture by Aimee Renee

Young Gisborne musician Jed Skuse has made the final of the New Zealand Blues & BBQ Festival competition and has the chance to win three days of recording time and other prizes.

The 18-year-old has original songs on Spotify and also plays a lot of blues covers.

“I feel pretty stoked to make the final in Rotorua on Sunday — I’m pretty happy about it,” he said.

“I’m practising hard and hope I do well.”

Bay of Plenty Blues Club Inc runs the three-day festival, which starts on Friday and mixes barbecue food and cook-offs with art and blues music headlined by such names as Midge Marsden, Kokomo, Grant Haua, Fiona Boyes and 19-Twenty.

There is also a fire dragon chilli-eating contest.

“The most important part of the festival is our Funday Sunday designed for the kids to be exposed to live music and be able to workshop with a selection of our headliners who are part of the festival,” BoP Blues Club secretary Di Riddel said.

“We are giving away a $5000 recording prize to the winner and great runner-up prizes from Rotorua Rock Shop.

“Jed Skuse is one of the finalists our selection panel picked . . . they immediately saw a great talent in his performance,” she said.

Jed will be up against six other contestants in the final to be run over two sets.

“They will perform on the big stage comprising of bands and duos from Rotorua and surrounding areas of Bay of Plenty.”

“My music is everything to me,” said Jed who has his sights set on a career in the industry.

“That’s the idea for sure.”

Meantime, Jed will play at Smash Palace on Friday before heading to Rotorua.