THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Buskers Festival kicked off celebrations for its 10th year on Saturday, welcoming entertainers from all over to join in the festivities.
The festival featured roughly 10 food vendors and around 46 fashion and arts crafters.
A diverse blend of musicians, magicians, acrobats, dancers, artists and more also filled Bay Street and Algoma Street.
“It’s a wonderful event. We’ve done this in the past and it’s nice just to be able to play our music,” said Kevin Holloway, who plays the trombone with Thunder Brass.
“People listen and they walk on. We’re not really putting on a concert, so if people stay for one verse or one stanza, that’s wonderful and I hope they enjoy the brass instruments.”
Holloway was playing alongside French horn Millie Gormely, tuba Darlene Chepil Reid and trumpets Becky Gillies and Ted Vaillant for the concert.
Rather than classical music, the group performed pop songs they had played at some of the city’s retirement homes, including songs by The Beatles, such as All My Loving, and Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin. They also played some songs from Star Wars and a football game song.
“We play for music and Darlene, our leader, just calls out the song. We turn to that page and then we just play it,” Holloway said.
Not often do people get to hear people from the brass world, Holloway said.
“You hear guitars and that’s fine. I play guitar as well, but brass instruments are a popular thing. Some of us are playing in the Roy Coran Big Band, so we have a strong affinity to playing on these kinds of instruments,” Holloway said.
However, he added that brass instruments “take a lot out of you.”
“After one hour, that’s it for us for today and we’re just playing for the one day,” Holloway said
“And it’s so nice to have this wonderful weather and all the people out here.”
Cody Creed, who was performing under the moniker Creed Statuary, also joined in the festivities.
“It’s wonderful. I’ve been coming for a lot of years,” Creed said, who travelled roughly nine hours from Winnipeg with his wife, who was selling chicken paintings at the festival.
“And even the first few people that came up, they were telling me about the history of their photos with me. And I love that. I love that children have grown up next to me here at the festival. It brings me so much joy.”
Creed was inspired to become blank after seeing the act in New Orleans, where he thought it was something that he could do. From there, he brought it to Winnipeg, where he is from.
“There was no one there until I was there as a living statue and then I’ve been able to travel across Canada as a living statue. So, it’s wonderful to get the chance to see the country,” Creed said.
Creed said he really hopes everybody comes out.
“It’s such a beautiful day. Come out and remember to tip your busker,” Creed said.
The festival will continue to run from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
