Tamworth Country Music Festival: busking changes for comfort, support

And there's a little bit more TLC this year for the public performers, who have more chances to both get away and get amongst it.

About 300 musicians are registered - more are expected as the week goes on - and this year they're being treated to a chill-out area and cavalcade spot.

Busking co-ordinator Jody Ekert said the street acts were vital to the vibe of the festival, so it was important to look after and get to know them better.

"The buskers are my favourite part of the festival ... I love the fact anyone can register - we don't say no to anyone as long as they're a musical act, it's just 'pull up a stump and away you go'.

"I don't think we ever want to lose that."

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Ms Ekert said the festival team worked hard to get to know the buskers, their music, how long they'd been coming to the festival and why, where they liked to perform, and more.

She said the heat and demands of performing - and the fact many buskers were on a budget and camped - meant they needed their own cool, close and kitted-out space to take a break.

With that in mind, she created the Busker's Chill Out Zone in Shearer Arcade, with beanbags, tea and coffee, fridge, microwave, board games and table tennis.

"We thought if we gave them a dedicated area to hang out, that would encourage them to stay longer on the streets and come back out at night for us," Ms Ekert said.

"It's also a spot buskers get to meet each other and network a little bit, rather than just playing on the street alongside each other."

Ms Ekert said one of her tasks was to help the musicians find their place: the right acoustics, surrounds, power and so on.

"Each busker has their sweet spot on the street that is perfect, and we spend the first few days trying to help each busker find that ... What suits one busker isn't going to suit another," she said.

And they do have a following.

"We do get a lot of requests at the [Festival HQ] busking desk, people saying, 'This is my favourite busker, where are they?'

"Sometimes it's a bit like herding cats as they find their posts and move around, but we do like to keep track of where everyone is."

In a mutual show of support, the street stars will take part in the cavalcade on Saturday with the SES, and emergency services personnel will be among the judges for the Toyota Country Music Busking Championships on Sunday in Toyota Park.