Toronto BuskerFest: August 23-26

Ontario’s largest street performers’ festival boasts a collection of musicians, sketch artists artisans and entertainers. Throughout the festival, gutsy street performers boldly take their talent right into the audience, where spectator participation ensures that every set is just a little different. The festival features over 100 performers from Canada, the U.S., Hungary, Argentina, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and more and is all in support of Epilepsy Toronto.

New this year, Las Vegas’s Cirque Mechanics bring the world premiere of the Gantry Bike. The 18′ high pedal driven bike is a circus on wheels, with juggles and contortions working on the ground level platform while aerial acts perform above, all driven through the crowd. There’s also Mario – Queen of the Circus who mixes complicated juggling tricks with the music of Queen, and Chicago Ultimate Tumblers, who appeared on America’s Got Talent and will be the largest circle show to ever perform at the fest with 12 members.

Returning performers include Silver Elvis, body contortionist Alakazam, Metro People’s Choice Award winners Dream State Circus and more.



Location(s): St. Lawrence Market Neighborhood, Toronto
Start Date: August 24, 2012
End Date: August 26, 2012
Telephone: 416-964-9095

Click here to check out more performers from this year’s fest.

Classical IV: Strings

Cost: FREE

Across the world, people have stretched string-like fibers across a sound box and plucked sounds with their fingers or produced it with bows. From cellos to ouds, koras to harps, burus to hurdy gurdys to pipa, quanun to double bass. Most of these derive from ancient instruments, require years of dedicated training to bring out the full range of their sounds, and produce sophisticated music played by highly skilled musicians.

Come explore the dramatically different aural soundscapes created by stringed instruments from across the world, played by virtuosi from home and abroad. Be prepared to open your ears, drop your preconceptions and discover new and ancient heartwarming resonances.
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