Local and International Musicians Announced for Scotiabank BuskerFest

Organizers for the 2011 Scotiabank BuskerFest have announced new musical acts joining this year's festival, as well as the brand new BuskerBeats program, where musical acts will perform in bars throughout the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood during the festival.

The 12th Annual Scotiabank BuskerFest takes place throughout Toronto's historic St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood in Old Town Toronto with world-class buskers taking to the streets in support of Epilepsy Toronto for four wild days of fun for all ages Thursday, August 25 to Sunday, August 28.

Folk, rock, pop, a capella, hip hop, roots, blues, world and swing music acts join the festival's over 100 stunning street artists that include comedians, contortionists, magicians, fire jugglers, acrobats and aerial artists (and a few other types of acts no words can describe!). With buskers from Argentina, Austria, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States, this is the most international Scotiabank BuskerFest ever, with approximately 50 per cent of acts making their first ever appearance at the festival!

Some of the musical acts never-before-seen at Scotiabank BuskerFest include:
Twenty-one-year-old Australian singer-songwriter Daniel Champagne often sounds closer to a three-piece band than a lone guitarist as he travels the world performing fiery live shows.

Starting as buskers in Barcelona, Austrian trio Cobario have taken their instrumental acoustic project to streets around the world, telling a story in every song with only two guitars and a violin.

Toronto singer-songwriter Heather Chappell and husband Vince Peets perform thoughtful, lyrical songs in the folk/roots tradition as well as lively traditional jigs and reels. Heather and Vince also have a personal connection to Scotiabank BuskerFest: both performers live with epilepsy.

Toronto a capella quartet After Hours continues the long-standing tradition of street-corner performance, singing Toronto's inner-city soundtrack in four-part harmony for more than 15 years.

Propelled by a steamroller of drums and energized by jazz horns, Toronto's DRUMHAND draws inspiration from the circuitous rhythms of hot climates for a high-energy, interactive performance guaranteed to encourage dancing.

Born in Jamaica and now based in Toronto, IMAAJI performs soulful melodies with a sensational tone that evokes the sounds of Tracy Chapman, Sade, Billie Holiday, Lenny Kravitz and Muse.

Toronto five-piece band The Boxcar Boys play 1930s swing music, Klezmer dance tunes and quirky originals with a sousaphone, clarinet, violin, accordion, trombone and a good-time New Orleans spirit.

And some local musicians returning to the festival: One of last year's favourites, beatboxer and 2008 Scribble Jam Beatbox Battle Champion Scott Jackson replicates many styles of rhythms and sound effects using only his mouth and vocals; Farrucas combines Latin sounds with Arabic elements, as well as Cumbia, Rumba/Salsa and traditional ballads to create an exciting Latin fusion style; and singer-songwriter Jim Armstrong plays a seamless blend of rock, roots, Americana and alt-country, attracting comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits and Steve Earle.

New this year, some musicians will be part of BuskerBeats, a program of performances in bars throughout the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood during the festival:
BerBer Lounge (49 Front Street East) will host After Hours (Thursday), Daniel Champagne (Friday) and DRUMHAND (Saturday), starting at 10pm each night.

Bier Markt (58 The Esplanade) will host The Loyals (Thursday, 9pm), Tom Barlow (Friday and Saturday, 10pm) and Acoustic Rock (Sunday, 2pm).

Fionn MacCools (70 The Esplanade) will host Gabe Salem (Thursday, 7pm), Done Deel (Friday and Saturday, 10pm) and Steve Carr (Sunday, 3pm).

12th Annual Scotiabank BuskerFest
Toronto International Street Performers Festival
Thursday August 25 - Sunday August 28, 2011
throughout the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood in Old Town Toronto,
Front Street all the way from Jarvis to Yonge and adjacent side streets
Thursday, noon-10pm; Friday, noon-11pm; Saturday, 11am-11pm; Sun 11am-8pm.
Admission is by voluntary donation to Epilepsy Toronto
For information, visit www.torontobuskerfest.com http://www.facebook.com/BuskerFestToronto

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