Busker-palooza!

For as long as there's been music, there have been musicians making tunes just for the thrill of it-and some even earn a nickel or two while they're at it. Every year, these artists, called "buskers," gather at festivals around the globe to celebrate the unusual way they make their living (and to distract the rest of us while we're waiting for poky public transportation).

Bob Dylan, Beck, and Woody Guthrie all were buskers once upon a time.

What defines a busker? "A busker is anyone who passes a hat at the end of their show," explains Jodi Wright, organizer of the World Buskers Festival in Christchurch, New Zealand. "It's a rare form of performance where spectators pay after being entertained and not before." It's also a form of performance that has launched many a star. Bob Dylan, Beck, David Byrne, and Cyndi Lauper are just a few of the countless artists who got their start performing on pavement.

This week, dozens of busking newcomers and veterans alike-from comedic-musical acts such as Dos Gringos and Waldo & Woodhead to acrobats and comedians -will gather in Christchurch to perform on streets and in amphitheaters throughout the city.

In nearby Australia there will be an additional handful of busker-filled events this year, including the Mortlake Buskers Festival and Coffs Harbour International Buskers Festival where, in addition to musicians, renowned pavement artist Julian Beever will
display his artwork.

No worries if you're not planning on going Down Under anytime soon-Canada has its own mix of busker festivals coming up, as does the U.S.

So who'll be scouring busker festivals in search of the next Woody Guthrie this year? According to Jodi Wright, the list is long.
"You could see a hundred different kinds of people all standing together, laughing at the very same thing," she says. "These performances
appeal to everyone."

Posted on January 23, 2006