Fifth Annual Buskerfest Celebrates Local Musicians

Playing music in public spaces for tips referred to as busking will be celebrated with the fifth annual Buskerfest in Long Beach. The free, all-ages event will close out the city’s Summer and Music Series put on by the Downtown Long Beach Associates, a nonprofit organization for property owners and tenants of the downtown business improvement district, Aug. 17 in the East Village.

The 12 participating local and regional bands will compete with stripped down performances on four stages set up on flatbed trucks and minor sound equipment on the corner of First Street and Linden Avenue. The “low-tech” production is intended to focus on the music allowing for more connection with the audience, according to the website.

Participants will vote for their favorite acts by throwing wooden nickels into guitar cases distributed at the beginning of the event. The band with the most wooden nickels will win a prize package that will benefit their music careers. Closing out the event is a dance party with DJ Prince Lithuanian. A beer garden will also be available for the 21-and-older crowd.

Buskerfest will take place from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sat., Aug. 17. Visit the website for more information.