As noted in this week’s article, “On a Friday night in Asheville, it’s near impossible to drop a coin without it landing in a hat or guitar case of a busker. Considering Asheville’s tourist economy and do-it-yourself ethos, it’s no surprise that downtown is packed with creative folks working their trade.” Xpress presents a brief glimpse into this world, letting the buskers tell the story in their own words.
Thanks to Whitney Miller, Daniel Hensley, Abby the Spoon Lady and Banjo Ben, Kevin Jerome, Bobby Sax, Scott Odell, the Golden Girl, Balkan Death Grip and the buskers of Asheville.
Interviews by Ursula Gullow. Photos by Chris Wood. Production and additional audio by Steve Shanafelt. For more local busking, visit the Busk Break project.
SHARE
Thanks for reading through to the end…
We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.
We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.
One thought on “Video: Life in the busk lane”
boatrocker
Yeah, Bobby Sax!
That guy has been a mainstay for years- last summer when I hadn’t seen him for a few months, a friend incorrectly told me he had passed away. When I saw Bobby the next time downtown after that, I was mucho relieved. Unlike our restaurants and clubs, Bobby is the anchor that keeps Asheville fun. A little sax and violins never hurt anybody.
Yeah, Bobby Sax!
That guy has been a mainstay for years- last summer when I hadn’t seen him for a few months, a friend incorrectly told me he had passed away. When I saw Bobby the next time downtown after that, I was mucho relieved. Unlike our restaurants and clubs, Bobby is the anchor that keeps Asheville fun. A little sax and violins never hurt anybody.