There's only so much fire-breathing, put-a-fifty-in-the-hat comedy routines, contortion and strange gyrating that I can take before I have to call it a day at the annual Halifax International Busker Festival, which is why, every year at some point I flock to the musical acts like a moth to the less-annoying flame. Sometimes, things you never knew you might like turn out to be the highlight of the day. This year Australian band Brother might be the one to beat---fusing vocals, guitar, bagpipes, percussion and a fucking didgeridoo in a meld of energetic world music that might make you brain dissolve. They will fight it out for top musical spot with The Latchiko's---the originators of "gyp-hop" who bust out spoken word, violin and harmonica to Gaelic beats, TRIBU, a group that boasts instruments from the Andino region and of course, Silver Elvis. There can be only one! (Not really, buskers are like Pokémon. Gotta catch them all.)
July 31-Aug 5, 12pm-10pm
Halifax Waterfront, by donation,
buskers.ca