Vermont-based musician Anna Trevor has been busking her way to less chilly southern climate in recent weeks, landing her in Asheville for one very windy afternoon. Here, she performs the traditional fiddle tune “Old Joe Clark”—one of her favorites—on her cello.
Love listening to local buskers? You can also subscribe to Busk Break via iTunes, and join the Busk Break Facebook fan page for all the latest news!
For a higher-quality, downloadable version of the tune, check out the embedded audio player below.
3 thoughts on “Busk Break: Anna Trevor Plays “Old Joe Clark” On Cello”
How does one break into street busking? I would like to try it, as I play Mountain banjo (NOT Bluegrass) and Mountain dulcimer (traditional).
Alex- I believe you may need to contact the Busker’s Union #420 and take a three-week course at AB Tech. At that point, you will need to apply for a permit at City Hall, and pay the $100 filing fee. After a 6-month waiting period and background check, you will be issued your official Busker uniform and be allowed in front of certain business in Enka.
Or, you could just do it.
If by mountain banjo you mean clawhammer or frailing style, come on in. We really, really need more of that here. If not, go back to NY or NH. Dulcimer, uh, you’re on your own.
Piffy or Adolph Hipster (name du jour?) makes a good point however about being exploited if’n you don’t watch out for the exploitive types (you’ll know them when you meet them).
Just start playing well, and don’t stop for anyone.
That’s how you break in to busking.
Anything above and beyond that would mean real gigs and a commitment to a real band.
One less hipster indie pop Americana band won’t earn you your first million, but if you know your roots, you can travel anywhere and people won’t yell at you to play Avett Bros crap. You’ll be taken seriously too.
Eschew and boycott mass media entertainment rags for your real passport for playing music you love. After all, you learned to play music to satisfy yourself, and not an audience. Truth is stranger than fiction.
Otherwise you’ll spend more time counting Facebook requests for who is planning to show up at your next gig than learning material to play at it.