Kuala Lumpur International Buskers' Festival 2006

Come December 2, leave your cars behind and take the LRT to either Masjid Jamek (Putra line) or Bandaraya (line) because some roads will be closed and you will have problems finding car parks. Go to Dataran Merdeka or line yourself along Jalan Raja. Go early to book a good place to watch the Buskers' Grand Parade which will be from 7.30pm and ends by 10.45pm. Buskers will be specially flown in from various coutries from around the world to entertain you with elaborate costumes, flower display, giant show puppets, marching bands, gigantic inclatable statues, flaming human torches and life-sise masquerade, along with a showcase of the best of Malaysian culture, arts and entertainments. Plan your arrival for 6.00pm to secure the best position to watch the parade.

The parade will lauch a 9 day Kuala Lumpur International Buskers' Festival 06 starting from 2 December and ending on 10 December. Organised by Tourism Malaysia, Pempena Sdn. Bhd. and Interexpo (M) Sdn. Bhd., they hope to make this an annual affair tied in with the annual year end sales. Foreign as well as local buskers will be participating.

After December 2, you can watch the buskers at the Central Market (Pasar Seni), Menara Kuala Lumpur, One Utama shopping center, Bukit Bintang and Berjaya Time Square from 4.00pm to 10.30pm. You can also join in the fun at the Buskers' Late Night Madness from 11.30pm to 2.00pm at Jalan P. Ramlee and Heritage Row.

The festival is free, but you are encouraged to throw a couple of coins, and preferably notes, into the hats. Proceeds will go to six charitable organisations.

What is busking? From wikipedia, busking is the practice of doing live performances in public places to entertain people, usually to solicit donations and tips. Those engaging in this practice are called buskers. Busking is a British term and is found throughout the world. In the United States the term busking is not as widely known, and so buskers there are more commonly called street performers or street musicians.

The international buskers who are performing are:

ALLSTAR SKATEBOARD CIRCUS (CANADA)
FireGuy will presents his new show "The AllStar Skateboard Circus”, mixing skateboard stunts with circus skills. FireGuy will be juggling while riding a skateboard and launching off from a ramp through a flaming star!

MR BUNK (CANADA)
The bumbling Mr. Bunk shocks and surprises with his oddball antics, and keen wit involving the whole audience. Anybody can become a victim to his games and tricks. With old-fashioned improvised clowning, and outrageous marionettes.

JEFF COLLINS (CANADA)
Jeff Collins is a renaissance performer. Jeff started busking when 5 years old, mading his debut as a magician to an audience of family and friends. By 12 he had added fire-eating, sword swallowing, unicycles and clowning to his repertoire.

SENMARU (JAPAN)
This will be the mysterious Senmaru whose “Edo-Daikagura" I can't guess what it is all about.

UCO SHOW (MONTREAL)
Mason B Davis is a risk taker, laughter maker, father of unbegotten stunts.

PETER RABBIT (USA)
Bucket drumming.

THE FAMILY FREAKOUT SHOW
a comedic carnival of clever capers, magical bamboozles, comedy and daring physical feats.

KROMATIK (QUEBEC)
Nathalie will colour your face, body, and soul, transforming the endless beauty of human nature into a happy creation of art.

ACROMANUEL (MEXICO)
Acrobatics, balance, control and strength, accompanied by atmospheric music as well as simple geometrical props.

AYANAKAI (AUSTRALIA)
Uses fire and music and weaves a tapestry of colour and sound fusing elements from both our organic past, and our digital future, into the moment.

ERIC GIRARD (CANADA)
Fire swallowing, impressive accuracy with the bullwhip, knife juggling, the famous bed of nails and the ladder of sharp swords.

PAUL WILDBAUM (CANADA)
Comedy, visual theater and audience participation.

SILVER ELVIS (CANADA)
Dancer, mime, clown, musician and actor.

PYROMANCER (NETHERLANDS)
A fire artist from the Netherlands.

MOTLEY TWO (NEW ZEALAND)
Mulletman and Ladderman offers a repertoire of tricks and feats of danger which will leave you breathless with laughter.

SCOT FREE (CANADA)
A skillful mix of character comedy, exciting daredevil stunts, sharp improvised with and audience interaction.

OJARUS (JAPAN)
Clowns with magic, mime, and other artistic activities.

ALAKAZAM (AUSTRALIA)
High energy comedy show.

PROJECT BOUNCE
High flying spectacle of acrobatics and mini-tramp antics, physical comedic mischief, breakdancing.

OZSTAR AIRLINES (AUSTRALIA)
Eloise Green and Katie Wright have joined forces and created OZSTAR AIRLINES, a small budget airline which quickly took off touring 9 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and now North America. High-flying comedic duo.

There will also be other local talents to entertain you.

For more information, surf over to Malaysia Buskers (close new window to return to this page), call 03-7710 3333 or email info@malaysiabuskers.com