Buskers are back and better than ever

News release
January 11, 2010

Buskers are back and better than ever

World Buskers Festival, 21 -31 January, Christchurch

Pack your sense of humour and spare change and head to the streets of Christchurch for comedy, music, fire and amazing feats at the 2010 World Buskers Festival.

This year’s 10 day and 11 night extravaganza, starting next week, promises to be better than ever, with a jam-packed schedule at 10 indoor and outdoor venues around Christchurch with more than 500 performances.

“We’ve got the gamut of street, circus and comedy shows all rolled into 10 days of non-stop fun and excitement. Expect the unexpected from a line-up that includes 47 of the world’s best acts from the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Japan, Israel, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand,” says festival director, Jodi Wright.

New this year is the UC Music Pitch, weekdays at Flour Power, City Mall and weekends in front of the Art Gallery. Heading the music line-up is a guaranteed show stopper, Dub FX from UK. Also on the music pitch are New Zealand band The Eastern, who recently opened for Fleetwood Mac, and singer/songwriter Hera from Iceland, now based in New Zealand.

Back by popular demand are two huge crowd favourites from the USA, Mario Queen of the Circus and The Daredevil Chicken Club.

Global laugh makers here for the first time include UK’s Chris Cross, Acrobuffos, The Raspyni Brothers, The Flash and Grandma from USA; Funny Bones a Japan/UK combo, Cirque de Soleil acrobatic stunt performer Reuben DotDotDot and Betty Brawn from Australia and the World Champion Living Statue 2009, The Stewardess, from the Netherlands.

Kiwi talent is high on the agenda, with comedians from around New Zealand descending on Christchurch. Michele A’Court will be hosting the Sumner Stand-Up series featuring Chris Brain, Irene Pink, Jav Jarquin, while Jeremy Elwoood hosts Comedy Caberet at Christchurch Casino. Local favourites Rubberband Boy, The Privy Council and Mulletman are back on the streets too.

There is something for everyone at pitches around the city starting with nighttime shows on Thursday 21st and then all day from 11am to 11pm Friday 22 to Sunday 31 January. Check out these sites:

• Busker Kid Pitch at Peacock Fountain, Botanic Gardens

• Fire Extravaganza with Flame Oz – nights at 10pm

• Buskers at Brighton – January 30 and 31

• Daily Street Shows throughout the city centre

• Night Sky Aerial Show with Fuse Circus at UC Busker Park, Victoria Square

• Comedy Cabaret at Christchurch Casino

• WBF Sumner Stand-Up at Sumner Community Centre

• iSite Late Night with the Buskers at The Bedford

• CIAL Busker Comedy Club at Arts Centre North Quad

Follow the buskers live on Facebook and Twitter. Go to www.worldbuskersfestival.com to join and keep up with the latest.

Copies of the full programme, distributed through The Press in early January, are also available at the i-SITE Visitor Centre in Cathedral Square and all Christchurch City Council offices and libraries. Festival information booths are on site in Cathedral Square and Victoria Square from Thursday 21 January at 11am and programmes are available there.

ENDS