Miss Mitchell won the overall intermediate performer in the annual Gore Gold Guitars last year but this year will, for the first time, compete in the senior section "with the big kids".
"It’s scary. It’s a whole new pot of competitors."
She is entered in nine sections, and will perform with her father, Ron, and sisters, Nicola and Maegan, in some categories.
She has been playing music since she was 4.
It will be the 11th year she has entered in the Gold Guitar awards.
"I’ve done it since I was little ... so it’s in my blood."
Being able to express herself and tell different stories was a large part of why she enjoyed music.
Miss Mitchell moved to Dunedin for study but was originally from Gore.
She was influenced by her father, who had been singing "most of his life".
While he preferred traditional country music, Miss Mitchell said her music was closer to a folk or alternative country style.
"A lot of my influence comes from people like Gillian Welch ... or the Lumineers."
She was looking forward to a new singer-songwriter section in this year’s event.
"My aim of the game is to make a career out of my own written music."
Awards publicity officer Shona Hewlett said the singer-songwriter had been a drawcard for this year’s event, particularly for the senior section.
"It’s made a big difference ... It’s not the easiest thing to do when you’re an amateur to try to source your own management, your own PR people and your own video clip."
The overall winner would get the opportunity to record their own song and produce a music video for it.
The event had "really picked up" in the past five years, Mrs Hewlett said.
The "Freeze Ya Bits Off" busking and auditions start today, followed by the Hands of Fame Induction Concert tonight.
The intermediate and junior finals will be held tomorrow night. The senior finals will be held and the overall winner announced on Sunday.
The awards had 702 people entered, bringing many people to the town. As well filling motels and hotels, more than 60 motorhomes are expected at the Gore A&P Showgrounds, from as far away as Auckland.
Showgrounds caretaker Bevin Roy said the first motorhomes arrived last Thursday.
