busking for change

Musicians take to the streets for War Child

Over fifty musicians will be hitting the streets on Thursday October 2nd, 2008, to take part in Busking For Change, a day long busking event to raise money for War Child Canada.

Busking for Change was inspired by Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, who spent twelve hours busking for War Child Canada on Toronto streets last October. Raine raised an astonishing $22,000 for War Child Canada¹s Rehabilitation project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Last year, hope began in the dark on a cold early October morning in Toronto," says Raine Maida. "As the sun began to set on my 12 hour busking journey, hope had transformed itself into $22,000 dollars and a guarantee that a school would be rebuilt by War Child Canada in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This year, Busking for Change takes that little idea and helps it grow into something mighty. Please come out and support all of us artists as we busk the streets of Toronto, proving yet again that hope may begin in the dark but ends on a brilliant ray of light."

Artists busking include Our Lady Peace, James Black & Rick Jackett of Finger Eleven, Die Mannequin, Neverending White Lights, Tomi Swick, Chantal Kreviazuk, Saint Alvia Cartel, The Skydiggers, Dave Bidini, Zack Werner, Flash Lightnin’, Lowest of The Low, Brown Brigade, The Painted Birds, The Waking Eyes, Joshua Bartholomew, Shiloh, Jeremy Fisher, Arkells, Brian Melo, Mother Mother, Suzie McNeil, Brian Byrne, Dodger, Aengus Finnan, The Apollo Effect, Hello Beautiful, Staylefish, The Artist Life, Kim Stockwood, Damhnait Doyle, The Great Lake Swimmers, Crash Parallel, Hunter Valentine and more …

Busking for Change will begin at 7a.m. and continue through 6p.m. Artists will move to various locations throughout the city including Queen & John, First Canadian Place, Brookfield Place (Bay & Wellington), Union Station, Metro Hall Square, Manulife Centre, Queen & Spadina, Simcoe Park, Princess of Wales Theatre, Cumberland Park, Royal Ontario Museum, Bata Shoe Museum, Yonge & St. Clair and 228 Yonge St.