The busker is a master of improvisation. Like a skilled jazz musician, the busker often works without a set list, responding to the mood of the crowd and improvising as they go. Some of the greatest street performers in the world make it look effortless, almost as if they were born on stage. Here are five of our favorite musicians who play on the street and in subway stations around the world.
1. The Piano Guys
The Piano Guys are known for their quirky mashups and creative music videos. They have won multiple awards for their busking, including “Best Use of Social Media” in 2015 and “Best Ensemble” at the World Busker’s Festival in New Zealand in 2012.
2. Bloco Obini
Bloco Obini is an Afro-Brazilian percussion group that started out playing on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. What makes them unique is their blend of Brazilian jazz and samba with popular tunes from around the world. They include a wide range of instruments, including shakers, gongs, and whistles, which makes for a fun experience for both performer and audience alike.
3. Pierre Bensusan
Pierre Bensusan is a French guitarist from Algiers who has been sharing his
As a traveler, I love to explore different cultures, to taste the local food and listen to the local music. It may sound a bit cliche, but the best way to learn about a country is by just going there, getting lost and talking to locals.
One way for me to get a first glimpse into the culture of another country is by listening to street performances. As a musician myself, I find it most enjoyable when buskers play traditional songs in their own style. It doesn’t matter if they are playing an instrument that I’ve never seen before or if they are singing in a language that I don’t understand: music is universal!
Today I want to share with you five of my favourite buskers from all over the world.
Many buskers are found in public places for the enjoyment of passers-by. Busking is a form of art, and there are many different types of street performers. Some performers will sing, dance, tell jokes or stories, or play an instrument.
If you’re walking around the city and you hear music coming from the streets, don’t hesitate to stop and enjoy it. Most people love live music, and street performances are usually quite fun. If you like what you hear, be sure to tip the artist. They’ll most likely appreciate it!
Here are five examples of some extremely talented buskers who have used the power of social media to attract millions of views.
Busking is the art of street performing for voluntary donations. It is a word that originated in England and entered the American English vocabulary around 1860, from the Spanish root word buscar, meaning “to seek.” The word has acquired its own unique definition, though; it no longer means simply “to seek” as a beggar would, but rather to seek approval from the general public.
Buskers vary widely in their styles of music and performance. These days, there are two main types of busking: street performances and subway performances. Street performances are typically singers on busy sidewalks or small ensemble bands playing on a street corner. Subway performers usually have more elaborate setups, including instruments such as the violin or accordion and are set up in metro stations to serenade commuters on their way to work or school.
Here is our list of some of the best buskers in the world:
1. André Rieu (Violin)
André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra. In 1987, he founded an orchestra that specializes in playing light classical and waltz music. He went on to tour with his orchestra around the world, and has sold millions of albums worldwide. Street performances are a rare treat for his fans, but are often recorded and published to YouTube!
A busker is a street performer. Buskers, also called street musicians or street entertainers, are people who perform in public places for gratuities.
A person who performs in public for donations of money or gifts is called a busker. This type of performance is known as busking. Performances are anything that people find entertaining, especially when performed in an unusual or distinctive manner or by wearing a costume. Busking is a form of art typically involving the performance of music, magic, juggling and other talent to passers-by for donations.
Buskers often use public spaces like the street to perform their art, but there are many other kinds of venues including busking festivals, indoor markets and other small shows. Busking is practiced all over the world and dates back to antiquity. Most buskers are street performers, but busking can also be done in small venues such as coffeehouses and pubs.
1. Daniel Waples
Daniel Waples is a hang drum player and has been known to travel around Europe playing his unique instrument. Daniel is a musician who is clearly passionate about his music and that passion can be heard in every note he plays. His style is both captivating and relaxing. When you listen to him play you can’t help but be mesmerized by the pure beauty of the music he creates.
He’s not just a street performer, Daniel has performed amazing concerts at famous venues like the Royal Albert Hall as well as being featured on numerous television shows. Here’s a video of Daniel playing with another popular busker, Harry Munro, at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
2. Harry Munro
Harry Munro is a street performer who specialises in playing the didgeridoo (or didjeridu). The didgeridoo is an ancient Aboriginal instrument that requires great skill to play correctly, which Harry most certainly has in abundance! He even has his own signature instrument called “The Dragon Didj”, which was created by Australian Aborigines specifically for Harry to use in his performances.
Harry also runs a busking academy in Edinburgh where he teaches people how to play the didgeridoo and also how to succeed as