You may, or may not know, that Toronto has a rich and vibrant music scene. We Torontonians proudly boast about our legendary venues – The Horseshoe Tavern, Lee’s Palace, Danforth Music Hall, and about our Indie music scene.
But we also have a lively busker community. If you travel the subway system, you’re sure to encounter a highly talented musician or two. They don’t beg for money, they do it for their love of music, and to make people’s commutes more enjoyable. Many of our buskers are highly accomplished musicians, and some even make a hefty living off of the change they collect. I’ve heard that it’s actually very difficult to get a regular spot in some of the busier subway stations.
And sometimes, you’ll spot a famous musician busking on a street corner or in a park on the day of his or her Toronto tour stop. Notables include Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, Passenger, and Glen Hansard. It’s actually quite a fun place to be.
Glen Hansard busking, now that’s impressive! Vibrant image Shane.
It sure is. It’s definitely one of the cooler aspects to living in Toronto.
I’ll admit that I don’t know any of the musicians that you’ve listed, but a lot of buskers are great performers and it can be quite entertaining to stop and listen sometimes.
I agree, it probably has something to do with the amount of practice they get from playing on a daily basis in public. I’m sure they get comfortable playing in front of crowds, and get very good at the songs that they do.
Great shot….it’s vibrant with life.
Thanks so much! They were excellent and entertaining. You don’t often see a tuba player busking on the street. I’ve actually seen these guys around town a few times.