Gut-busting Buskers Festival back 19-29 Jan
The World Buskers Festival line-up for 2006 has 33 acts and is expected to entertain record numbers over its 11-day run in the city.
This invitation-only event has been run in Christchurch since 1994 and this year was judged best at the Champion Canterbury Awards in the small host category. It is core funded by the City Council.
Director Jodi Wright says it’s a pleasure to be able to bring some of the world’s best talent to Christchurch.
“It’s a win-win proposition for the performers and the community,” she says. “We have a terrific New Zealand artist component this festival, a great line-up of previous favourites and a raft of new shows from around the globe.”
New acts this year include Canadian Mike Wood, a funny man with a peculiar taste for cabbage; Magic Brian, from the United States, whose accomplishments include eating lightbulbs; the amazing Australian acrobatic duo PopEyed and Lindsay Benner, an American whirlygig who’s also one of the world’s few solo female street performers.
Returning acts include Mario Queen of the Circus, Waldo and Woodhead and the Blackstreet Boyz — winners of the 2005 World Buskers Festival People’s Choice competition.
The entire line-up includes 12 New Zealand acts, nine from North America, seven from Europe, five from Australia plus one from Japan. As always, they are not paid to take part but instead rely on donations from the audience members. Ms Wright hopes the city will maintain its reputation of appreciative largesse.
- For full programme details, watch out for the 40-page tabloid programme distributed in the 5 January Press or look online at www.worldbuskersfestival.com Closer to the festival the programme will also be available from Council service centers and libraries.
Mario Queen of the Circus is one of a number of last festival’s favourites returning for another round of uplifting performances.
|
