A hit song by Alicia Keys and a Coldplay favourite were behind a Shepparton duo’s win at the second annual Showdown at the Soundshell at Girgarre on Saturday.

Singer Kaitlyn Martin, 15, and multi-talented instrumentalist Aditi Xavier, 17, beat a field of 21 other musicians to finish the six-hour music contest, being presented with first prize by Jan Smith of the Girgarre Development Group.

They sang Keys’ hit song If I Ain’t Got You and then Coldplay’s Fix You to win the 2024 title from renowned Bendigo busker Emma Gleeson, who performed two original songs and was presented with her runner-up prize by Alek Stokes from the Community Bank Rushworth.

An Indigenous artist with close ties to the Girgarre community finished in third place, 12-year-old Joey Possum-Fox, performing on the didgeridoo.

The Echuca musician spends most weekends and many of his school holidays with his grandparents in Girgarre and is a regular at the Music Walk in the town.

His first appearance on stage was at the Girgarre soundshell last year with the Junkestra.

The Born ‘n’ Bred Music Prize of a half-day recording session was awarded to 17-year-old Zay Ryan, who performed Raise a Little Hell by Canadian rock band Trooper.

He was presented with his prize by Rochester-based music tutor Paul Colyvan.

The Kyabram region was strongly represented in the competition, with Sarah Mott among the remaining competitors. She performed the Joy Woods hit My Days from the movie The Notebook.

Another Kyabram student of the arts, Jasmin Grima, sang Oceans (Where Feet May Fail). She is a veteran of three musicals with St Augustine’s College and is a member of its choir.

Former Girgarre Primary School student Charlotte Stone, 13, performed Hallelujah, the powerful song written and composed by Canadian poet and singer Leonard Cohen.

Saxophonist Ewen Walsh, who was part of last year’s Showdown, again performing at the event. He played the upbeat Tequila surf instrumental song.

Echuca-Moama was again strongly represented in the field, with Josh Parker, Imogen Anderson, Georgia Armstrong, Oliver Knight, Sarah McKenzie-Ross and Blake Robinson all involved.

Colbinabbin’s Ruth Woodman, just 12 years old, was also involved, performing Memory from the musical Cats.

Other musical acts were from Tatura, Nathalia, Cranbourne, Cobram, Bendigo and Albury.

The event was sponsored by Girgarre Development Group, Community Bank Rushworth and Born ‘n’ Bred, the Rochester-based band whose members also run a music tutoring business.

All contestants were aged between 12 and 18 years old, with first prize being $1000 and $250 offered to both the runner-up and third place-getter.

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Sunday, 13th July 2025

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