THE FishJam Youth Stage at the Airlie Beach Festival of Muisc offers aspiring young artists a unique opportunity to thrive.

Music legends Bill Chambers, Phil Emmanuel and Kieran McCarthy will share their knowledge through a series of music workshops there this weekend.

They will also perform alongside local youth and inspire them to follow in their footsteps.

Chambers has attended the festival for the past three years and said it was the type of environment where music legends prospered.

"When I was kid, people used to invite me on stage and I would sing along,” he said.

"There is nothing better than getting in the deep end, that's how I did it.”

FishJam Stage co-ordinator Bob Barford said there would be many opportunities for local people looking to get their foot in the door.

"There will be a whole heap of young solo artists who are just starting to make their way into the music business,” he said.

"In previous years, we had three to four people who performed on stage and (they've) gone on to progress in music

across the state.”

Mr Chambers had advice for local talent seeking to make their mark.

"Be true to yourself and play the music that makes you feel something rather than follow a trend,” he said.

"Most people who make something of themselves have their own idea and come up with something new and brave.”

The FishJam Youth Stage, run by Mr Barford, Mel and Paul Saunders, and supported by Corrine and Sam Vinci, has for the first time secured financial support from Whitsunday Regional Council to promote cultural development in the region.

Proserpine State High School band conductor Ron Turner will bring the PSHS concert band and the Burdekin Christian College Band. Local Aboriginal dance group River People will appear. The Lions club will run market stalls around the stage.