Outstanding Music Line-Up at BuskerFest!

Organizers of the 17th annual Toronto International BuskerFest for Epilepsy are pleased to present a rich line-up of outstanding musical acts among the more than 100 performers from Canada and around the world performing over Labour Day Weekend, September 2-5 at Woodbine Park in The Beach neighbourhood.

BuskerFest includes a wide array of street performers, from acrobats and magicians to comedians, fire-manipulators, daredevils and musicians! Among the more than 45 talented acts at this year's festival are over a dozen musical acts representing a wide variety of styles - from African rythmns to old-time jazz, from Latin beats to beatboxing and more!

Rock, Blues & Jazz

Adam Soloman - This Juno award-winning musician has busked in the TTC musician program for over 15 years. His unique style fuses traditional African rhythms with American blues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHpzhClZnKk

AHI - He has travelled over 50,000 miles, armed with an acoustic guitar and a voice described as "gravel on silk". With local and nationwide airplay, AHI's Indie Soul EP was named among CBC Radio One's top 10 Toronto records of the year, while his passionate live performances have graced audiences worldwide. AHI's heartfelt rendition of 'No Woman No Cry' connected him with thousands more online. He was also recently named a Top Ten Finalist for the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class, to be awarded in September. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaS4mGKbDro

Candy Apple Jazz Band - New Orleans trad, dixieland, swing jazz, and DIY punk meets some theatrical tomfoolery to create a rabble-rousing street party every time this band performs! Performing for the first time at the festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDjL3NdEbGY

Hogtown Sound - Performing brass band-style instrumental covers of pop hits from yesterday and today, along with R&B, funk, rock, disco, jazz and more, has made Hogtown Sound one of Toronto's favourite busking bands. They started busking in the summer of 2013 as a means to pay for their music school tuitions and haven't looked back since. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpyLYErpjUE

Mellow Dee - Improvising on the spot, making amazing beat loops and then singing and playing live over them - if you like piano, beats and vocals you will love Mellow Dee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r1E30yEoms

Celtic & Folk

Barada Street - A performance jam packed with live music, comedy, acrobatics and cheeky idiocy. This award-winning international duo, comprised of a gangly English idiot and a strongman from Kyrgyzstan, charm audiences and bring heart-warming intimacy to the street and stage. Performing for the first time at the festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yejIgnkaMgA

Heather Chappell and Vince Peets - These two Toronto-based singer-songwriters have been partners in music and life for over 15 years, playing a mix of original folk/roots songs and lively traditional jigs on a plethora of pretty penny whistles, a romping red guitar and a purple accordion named Violet. Heather and Vince both live with epilepsy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9ukCFYH2nU

Screeched Inn - Upbeat, high energy folk-based music, tightly performed in beautiful three part harmony, Screeched Inn is the definition of what you'd expect from a down home, east coast kitchen party.
http://www.screechedinn.com/fan-footage.html

World Music

Farrucus Duo - The stirring rhythms and instrumentation of Farrucas Duo paint an exotic musical portrait: a fusion of two musical traditions, Mediterranean and Ecuadorian, brought together and spiced up by Arab, cumbia, rumba flamenco, salsa & rock influences.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eY8bNVrwys

MaracaTALL - This high energy, high impact stilt-drumming troupe can be seen and heard over 100m away. With colourful costumes, choreography adapted from folkloric traditions and Maracatu drums, MaracaTALL raises Afro-Brazilian rhythms to new heights!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm07Foym-nI

RANO-RANO Traditional Ukrainian Village Voice - For their first time at BuskerFest, performing traditional polyphonic music from central and eastern Ukraine, called "open voice," this unique singing style is renowned across the world for its notorious loudness and expansive multi-part harmonies. Led by Mark and Marichka Marczyk, members of Lemon Bucket Orkestra and co-creators of the acclaimed immersive theatre experience Counting Sheep: a Guerilla Folk Opera. They will be returning from its highly successful and acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe, just in time to perform at BuskerFest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EccprVySrPQ

Interactive

Zoossemobile - The Zoossemobile is peddling up an interactive musical performance with loads of audience participation. Their 20-foot sculpture made up of 50 recycled percussion instruments is mobile and will be making its way through BuskerFest!

Special Performances

Dr. Draw & The Strange Parade - Dr. Draw returns to BuskerFest to once again invigorate and enthrall the crowds with his unique style of violin playing that brings together elements of classical, jazz-rock fusion, folk, pop and electronic music into a riveting masala of sound. Performing on the gazebo stage Friday and Saturday night of the festival, he brings with him The Strange Parade, a collective consisting of a full band, multi-disciplinary artists and beat maker DJ BSMNT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf9IsPbVn8k

Hip Hop Champions, hosted by Scott Jackson - Canadian Beatbox Champion Scott Jackson hosts a one-of-a-kind show featuring some of his most acclaimed friends from the Hip Hop world: unanimously appointed 2015 DMC Online World Champion DJ Vekked, the Sound Battle Royale Champion with multiple JUNO nominations under his belt, Fresh Kils and extreme breakdancer Switch B. This Hip Hop super show is performed every evening of the festival, Friday - Monday at 6pm on the Gazebo Stage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzZ7iKfKnxk

Festival admission is by donation to Epilepsy Toronto, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping more than 40,000 Torontonians with epilepsy and their families through counselling, employment support, advocacy and education. This year, for the first time, advance passes are available online, and can be used for express entry to the event. Anyone who makes an online donation will be entered to win daily prizes leading up to and during BuskerFest. Contest prizes include local gift certificates for food, merchandise, event tickets and more!

"Thanks to the generosity of BuskerFest visitors who donate to Epilepsy Toronto, we are able to provide much needed support to the 1-in-100 people in Toronto living with epilepsy," says Geoff Bobb, Executive Director of Epilepsy Toronto. "This is one of the most amazing festivals in Canada. We are incredibly excited about all of the international and Canadian performers who make this festival come alive and who share their talents at the festival in support of Epilepsy Toronto."

17th Annual Toronto International BuskerFest for Epilepsy

Friday, September 2 - Monday, September 5, 2016

Woodbine Park in The Beach (1695 Queen Street East)

Friday, noon - 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Monday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Admission by donation to Epilepsy Toronto

For Advance Passes or information, visit: www.torontobuskerfest.com

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