Street Musicians Thread
 

So, I recently picked up a CD by a local musician here in manchester (Right-Track has probably seen him around Picadilly Gardens before, among others)

His name is Jali Nyonkoling Kuyateh, and he's something of a local celebrity, he's been hanging round manchester playing his Kora in the daytime for years and his music is absolutely wonderful, gloriously uplifting stuff. He often gets his friends along to dance and play percussion too, and it's fantastic stuff.

It got me to thinking, before I share his stuff with you all, how many of us live in cities with culuturally rich street music and yet have never thought to share that with the rest of Musicbanter?


Track 2 - Jali Nyonkoling Kuyateh - YouTube


Jali Nyonkoling Kuyateh busking in Manchester - YouTube


Jali Nyonkoling Kuyaleh on Gambian Gora 9May09 - YouTube

By the way, I'm already aware of at least one excellent street musician from elsewhere - some of you might be too, since he's something of a celebrity, Michael Masley, and his Cymbalom hammered/bowed/plucked dulcimer.


Collateral Timbre Set 5 Bowhammer Cymbalom "Hand-Sown-Digital~Loop Garden Suite" - YouTube

michael masley.mov sapi#897 - YouTube

We do also get some slightly more odd buskers in manchester of course... I was searching for a gentleman we used to see called Marc Bolan, but I couldn't find any video (He was a Rastafari looking kind of guy who had legally changed his name by deed poll to that of yon T-Rex member. Used to stand outside Boots near the arndale center with a guitar that I don't think had ever been tuned, strumming it madly for a few seconds at a time, then simply yelling at the top of his voice. Mentalist.)

But since I couldn't find a video of him, here's this guy:
Backwards Legs Busker Manchester - YouTube

thumbs up on the bow finger instrument. the only street musician i can think of is dub fx
Dub FX 18/04/2009 'Flow' feat. Woodnote - YouTube

there isn't any youtube videos available of the ones that I've come across. Maybe they just aren't as regular as some others but I did stumble across this video of some guy performing in Union Square Park.



Also while I was out in Portland I saw one of these drummers but he didn't have as many buckets though.

I can't stand street "musicians". I used to have to deal with these pricks all the time when I lived off of the Plaza in Kansas City; worthless ****s, blaring away, often times assisted by goddamned amps(!). I don't like being constantly inundated with music whether it be from an inconsiderate neighbor or a dickhead who thinks loud car stereos are cool, and I certainly don't like having to deal with it when the source is some almost-homeless wretch who has an entitlement complex because he's incoherently blaring away with his instrument.

edit: I've never in my life heard a "street musician" who wasn't worthless. You know why? Because if they could make any sort of meaningful money playing music, they wouldn't be on the damn street.

As someone who has played both flute and guitar on the street and in train stations here, and got tips from it, your comments offend me.

I'm not sure why you felt the need to take a dump on this thread when GB is trying to get people to showcase good undiscovered musicians, but anyways, moving along...

Nice Post Thanks... :)

There are tons of people here in Chicago that busk only because they have to. Of course there are those that chose to do so because they just want people to hear their music, and have no other outlet, but for the ones that do it because they have no other income due to what ever reasons, I'd like to lock you in a room with a few of them, and have your above statement on 8.5x11 sheets taped all over the walls, and strewn across the floor.

Would be an interesting experiment. That entitlement **** goes both ways.