Buskarama comes to Pateros, Sept. 21-22

COURTESY OF VETERANS OF THE ARTS

PATEROS – The August meeting of the city council designated Saturday, Sept. 21, Buskarama Day, to commemorate Buskarama coming to the city.

Buskarama is making its first-ever appearance in downtown Pateros on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-21. A benefit dinner and show will be held from 7-10 p.m. on Friday, followed by the main event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The event is presented by Veterans of the Arts, a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Busking is defined as an ancient practice of public performance. Buskarama began at Seattle’s Pike Place Market as a way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jim Page of Led Zepplin fame and Seattle street performer Artis the Spoonman and their contribution to the arts and culture scene in Seattle.

The inaugural event took place earlier this year on June 15, with the opening of the Public Market. 

“The goal of the first year's event was a bold but realistic vision,” a Veterans of the Arts statement said. “Buskarama aims to entertain the tens of thousands visiting Pike Place on the day by encouraging licensed buskers to perform at all 15 designated locations through the 7-acre historic district. Some of the spots marked by stenciled red music notes are iconic, such as The Cave, under The Clock, and in front of Starbucks.”

Mayor on board

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Mayor Kelly Hook, who recently participated in a ZOOM conference with the Buskarama organizers. 

“This went from a small conversation to meeting with people I never thought I would be talking with,” said Hook. “One of the guys has worked with some very, very famous musicians and has been all over the world, and they want to come to little Pateros.”

Mayor Hook read the Buskarama proclamation:

The City of Pateros declares that Saturday Sept 21 is BUSKARAMA DAY.

The City of Pateros is encouraging its citizens and visitors of the community to participate in a day of music.

Busking is a tradition of art and street performance that traces back thousands of years and continues to be an inspired means of sharing music and ideas.

The goal of BUSKARAMA is to simply encourage people of all ages to perform music outside in many of the locations the event provides, and if so inspired, to tip musicians as a means of directly supporting the arts.

A focus of BUSKARAMA DAY will be to show the children of Pateros and the world that music is something they are free to create today and better themselves and the world with tomorrow.

A community that creates and appreciates music is a community that will prosper in many ways.

To learn more, visit veteransofthearts.com/buskarama online.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media