IF YOU closed your eyes and listened to the sounds coming from the Main Stage at the Gympie Muster this week, you may have easily mistaken the young performers for the festival’s top-billing country music artists.

I happened to be blown away by a powerful, bluesy country voice blasting out of the loudspeakers on Wednesday.

After wandering around the festival looking for something to catch my eye the crisp, clear female vocals broke through the din and my ears went up.

Country music may not be my favourite genre, but I can recognise a good voice when I hear one.

So I started to make my way to the stage to find out who the talented vocalist was, and lo and behold she belted out a yodel that would impress any traditional country music critic.

There was no question then that it was Alice Benfer, former Gympie High School student and front-woman of Country Music School of Excellence band Southbound, on stage.

One of the few young yodellers in the Australian country music industry, Alice’s abilities are seen as unique and whoever said that was not wrong.

I made a bee-line to the front where I enjoyed the rest of her set – a surprise original at the end of her set giving more credibility to this upcoming talent.

Pania Tapper gave a solid backing performance on bass and vocals while Brad Williams impressed from behind his drum kit.

And the talent kept coming.

Grace Sleeman gave a highly energised performance in front of her CMSOE band Reminiscence without missing a beat, while lead guitarist Aidan Patrick rocked on the acoustic electric with solid backing from Karen Mayfield, on bass and vocals, Brad Williams on drums.

The next CMSOE band to take to the stage was Freefall, fronted by lead singer Leticia Cumner, who definitely held her own on the Main Stage.

She was supported extremely well by her band, which included the talented Harmony Douwes on fiddle and Brad Williams on drums – yet again.

Headlining the CMSOE showcase was Aiming High, who put on yet another notable performance that had the audience thinking the kids had been around forever.

Caitlyn Shadbolt’s professional performance and high level of talent was matched by lead guitarist Jake Whittaker, Kyle Salisbury on bass and again, Brad Williams on drums.

All kudos went to Brad whose ability on drums put him up there in the category of this Muster’s most in-demand session musicians.