Cory Dow stands on his make-shift stage, belting out improvised riffs on his electric guitar. His fingers are covered in blisters and he says he thinks he’s starting to get carpal tunnel.
“So far I’ve been playing about 5-6 hours per day, which has so far caused quite a bit of tendon damage and has resulted in quite a bit of forearm bruising.”
Dow is just one of the many musicians who lined the sidewalks of Fredericton during the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. He said at times there were as many as 50 people who would stop to listen on their way to the big shows.
Dow moved to Fredericton just a few years ago after leaving a job in the financial services industry. The thirty-something said music beckoned him and he could not ignore the call. But it hasn’t been easy.
“I’m down two inches in the waist,” he said, “I spent my entire savings and retirement savings and I have a wife and three children and we’re all getting hungry.”
This is Dow’s first recognized gig since leaving his job. His wife and kids watch nearby. Dow said he’s grateful for the opportunity to be one of the festival’s many street performers. He said he’s even more grateful for the coins in his guitar case.
“It’s riches,” he said, “I’m seeing people throw in what they don’t have, and that’s very flattering.”
Musicians have to apply for permission to perform on the streets during Harvest Jazz and Blues. Every performer gets amplifiers and microphones, accompanied by an official ‘Street Performer’ sign.
Jamey Luvs is just a few blocks down the street from Dow, singing a Black Crows song in front of the Royal Bank. She’s no stranger to performing on the streets of Fredericton. She said she busks everyday around lunchtime and was asked by a festival organizer to apply for the permit to perform.
Luvs said playing during the jazz and blues festival is a stark contrast to her usual lunchtime gigs.
“They provided me with power. Usually, I just play acoustically and this is great because I don’t have to sing so hard,” she said, “The street’s blocked off to cars, it’s great for a street performer, you couldn’t asked for any better.”
Luvs started performing on the street because she had no rehearsal space at home. She said the best part about using it as a rehearsal space is an audience is already built-in.
Luvs does not hide her enthusiasm for performing outside, nor does she show any jealousy towards those playing in the big white tents.
“Live on the street, it’s so direct contact,” she said, “Direct, immediate contact is awesome.”
There’s a wide variety of musicians who perform on the streets during the festival. There is an Elvis impersonator on a corner, drawing in huge crowds of people. There’s a Jack Johnson sound-a-like who looks like he just came in from the beach. On King Street, there’s Petunia, a local musician who is known for his love of yodelling.
Petunia is also no stranger to performing on the street. He’s played his country-folk songs on sidewalks across the county. He’s even got a hitchhiker’s diary on sale for $4 out of a suitcase.
Petunia is known for his quirkiness as a musician. Illustrating this is a tiny trumpet-like mouthpiece attached to his neck.
“It’s a Stradivarius kazoozaphone,” he said, “It’s made by Stradivarius and shipped to me personally.” *
Petunia performs almost every year for the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, whether it be on the street or in a pub. He said it’s always fun.
The street performers had no trouble bringing in crowds during the festival. With Queen Street closed, the downtown area was packed. At one point, dozens of people crowded around performer Owen Steel. He was taken aback, saying “You guys do know that Buddy Guy is playing just down the street, right?”
The street performers of Harvest allow festival-goers the opportunity to stumble across several types of music just by walking down the street. It also provides a great service to the musician. It allows them to play to crowds who would otherwise never be exposed to their music.
Dow said most of the time, busking is quite hard.
“A lot of times you get escorted away by merchants. So unless you get a permit it’s very difficult to busk in a downtown area.”
Dow is excited to be a part of the festival, and even more excited to have people listening to his music. He said it’s days like these that he feels blessed – regardless of the bruises and blisters.
*Note: There is no evidence that a Stradivarius kazoozaphone is anything but a fancy looking kazoo.
