With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in sight, a colourful array of rookie and long-time buskers can be seen once again around Government Street and Bastion Square.

While extended outdoor patio seating for restaurants occupies certain busking locations, the recent closure of a section of Government Street to motorized vehicles for the main part of the day has attracted larger volumes of foot traffic and spawned joy among buskers as a result.

ALSO READ:

Mark Weston, a stay-at-home dad and part-time busker for about three years, sees busking as an opportunity to practice music, socialize and meet other musicians. He said busking was warmly received last summer by the public.

B次元官网网址淧eople told me that, with all the doom and gloom, itB次元官网网址檚 really nice to see just a ray of normalcy with some music on the streets,B次元官网网址� he said.

He anticipates greater amounts of foot traffic with the pandemic subsiding and said the closure should have been done years ago, noting drivers in a rush would not take that route anyway.

Singer, harpist and artist Yasmeen Olya busked around Europe and garnered an international following in that time. She appreciates having Government closed for its similarity to the peaceful inner cities of Europe.

B次元官网网址淚 think people are hungry for music and they want performances and they want community,B次元官网网址漵he said.

On VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 quieter days during the pandemic, Olya took pleasure in performing remotely in nature-oriented areas around Salt Spring Island and elsewhere.

B次元官网网址淚 love busking because you can meet so many different kinds of people and the music can touch people that wouldnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily listen to a harp and vocalist concert,B次元官网网址� she said, adding it serves as an introduction to a style of music one may not have previously been familiar with.

To hear OlyaB次元官网网址檚 music and view her artwork, visit .

For Jamaican musician JADAHinc, performing on the streets of Victoria with his guitar is a breath of fresh air after having numerous shows cancelled in Ottawa during the pandemic and moving out west to visit his son.

B次元官网网址淚 am tired of being locked up in a building somewhere, locked away from people,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he people are very friendly and warm here, no question about it.B次元官网网址�

JADAHinc has busked for more than 20 years, finding his love for music at age 12 and performing around Jamaica, Europe and Ontario.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a firm believer in music being attached to memories and emotions and everything like that, so when certain people hear a certain song, they associate that with a good time in their life,B次元官网网址� said Kingston-born busker and tree planter Harvey Moon.

Having started busking last January, Moon is excited to see the Government corridor busy again. He enjoyed being able to play next to restaurants in previous months without needing to compete with hired performers and being asked to leave.

B次元官网网址淲henever I come out, I get a lot of really good reactions from people telling me how much they appreciate me being out here and just playing live music.B次元官网网址�

Duo Marian Schols and Jeronimo Aviles noticed an abundance of competition along the stretch on their first day of busking. Aviles, originally from Cancun, met Schols at music school and is happy to now be part of the local music scene both on and off the street.

B次元官网网址淲hen there are no gigs, IB次元官网网址檓 probably going to be out here busking,B次元官网网址� he said.

ALSO READ:

Peter Goodmen has been a street artist for over five years and previously battled cancer. Radiation from chemotherapy severely weakened his lungs, but he found peace and respite through selling his artwork.

B次元官网网址漃eople are sort of walking around in fear,B次元官网网址� he said, describing the last year as rough for him as a busker. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not very giving, they donB次元官网网址檛 talk and I think thereB次元官网网址檙e gradual little changes now, but itB次元官网网址檚 going to take a while.B次元官网网址�

In any case, Goodmen is happy with the Government Street closure, especially the addition of potted plants.

B次元官网网址淲e all need to learn and grow within ourselves. We need to learn how to re-love and re-nurture ourselves and direct that same kind of love in motion at other people.B次元官网网址�

For more stories from our annual Best of the City publication, . You can also find the special publication

Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.

Follow us on and and like us on