Introduction and A Canadian Busker

I've taken a passing interest in live music and buskers for a while now.  I've always felt a lot of them are more talented than they are given credit for.  They are real people, making music not looking for fame or fortune via way of talent shows but by performing in more hostile environments, braving heat or cold to make a few coins here and there.  Sometimes they have good days, other days must be entirely crushing for their egos and self esteems.  Others may be incredibly scary, dealing with the risk of being mugged or threatened by the various lunatics that roam our streets.  To me it seems like one of the oldest professions out there - akin to the Medieval court jester or Pied Piper of Hamlin.  Since returning to Belfast I thought I'd make more of an effort to showcase some of the buskers on the local scene.  Filming them, with their permission wherever I could.  This may not amount to much but a little more respect for a few but I consider this an experiment.

My first entry will be the Canadian busker Riley, whom I met on Thursday night around 1 AM on Botanic Avenue.  He lives and works in Vagabounds Hostel, where (I'd imagine) he receives food and board for working reception and doing various chores but not too much else.

To start here's a Jack Johnson cover.  Unfortunately I'm no pro with Audacity or the like, so will have difficulty editing the background noise such as traffic.  The camera I'm using is an iPhone 4 which at the time of shooting had little battery left.

Here's his CCR cover - Bad Moon Rising

Lastly here's one of his own songs, rudely interrupted by two drunk girls from Derry and their English friend.  It's an obvious danger of busking at night but he handles it exceptionally well, showing professionalism and a zen like calmness as they make absolute tits of themselves.

.

That's it for now.  If you have any questions or suggestions for buskers to check out, please e-mail me at zeromalarki@gmail.com