This Sunday, a showcase of art and performance hits the streets of one of the capital’s hippest districts. For one day only, the Braddon Busking Festival invites the community to experience a smorgasbord of street performances.
The festival is organised by the Braddon Collective, a volunteer group that aims to keep the area thriving and exciting. The busking festival was the first thing the volunteer group decided to plan when they formed in 2019. The same year, they held the inaugural event, which received praise from performers, attendees, and local businesses.
“The day is so much fun,” Braddon Collective co-founder Susan Davidson says. “Hopefully, it inspires people to get involved in a creative pursuit.”
Like many events, the festival had to change operations over the last couple of years, but this year it’s back in full swing. Twenty buskers will rotate stations along Lonsdale Street, stretching right up to Haig Park, from 10am to 3pm.
“It’s a great way to say to the people at the [Haig Park] market that ‘hey, this is on’ and to go this way,” Ms Davidson says.
The community is encouraged to get involved. They can purchase coins to throw in performers’ hats. The busker with the most coins will receive a people’s choice award of $500. Attendees are encouraged to bring cash to throw in, as the money from the busker coins funds the festival and prizes.
The day celebrates all types of street performers, from music to physical performance, and is age inclusive. A youth competition invites primary and high school-aged students to get involved and share their talents; winners receive $500 and $300 respectively. The open age group covers anyone 17 and older; $1,000 and $500 prizes are up for grabs. The two categories will be judged by a panel of experts on both their performance and how they engage with their audience.
The final showdown happens outside Lonsdale Street Roasters at 3-4pm, when finalists battle it out in a busk off, from where winners will be decided and announced. Winners will heading to the Australian National Busking Championships in Cooma on 26 November.
“We know we have lots of talent in Canberra, and people just enjoy getting out on the street and having those live performers,” Ms Davidson says.
Attendees are encouraged to catch the light rail or public transport when heading over.
Hit the streets and see the performances at the Braddon Busking Festival, Sunday 23 October 10am-4pm; braddoncollective.com
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