It all started back in 1998, when a kind-hearted co-worker asked me if I would like to add a hammered dulcimer, built by a friend of hers, to my musical collection. Curious, and unable to turn down the gift of an unusual instrument, I gladly accepted. Well. The dulcimer was a beast. It was clunky. It weighed a good 20 pounds. Some of the strings were broken, and the rest were out of tune. When I tried using a tuning key, I broke more strings. They sprang up like whiskers.

I was faced with a dilemma. I couldn’t play The Beast. I couldn’t repair it. I couldn’t fathom anyone else wanting it. And I could not bring myself to throw out a hand-made, gifted instrument. So I did what all good instrument hoarders do – I hid it under my bed. There it remained, month after month, year after year, until one day a visiting Vince asked me if I knew anything about dulcimers.

I crawled under the bed and presented him with The (rather dusty now) Beast. He was intrigued. Surely he, an artist and a musician who can play pretty much any instrument you throw at him, could figure out something creative to do with it. So he took it off my hands and out of my home (thus clearing a dulcimer-sized space under the bed for my next impulsive decision). I’m still not sure how Vince got The Beast home on his bike. And I’m not sure where he kept it in his tiny apartment. But time went by, and I forgot all about it.

Fast forward to 2007. Picture a newly married Vince and Heather unpacking our shared possessions in our first apartment. A box here, a shelf there, some coats, some dishes, several guitars.... and...... THE BEAST! It had come back! I gazed at it with horror. Vince shrugged.

Since we still could not bring ourselves to throw it away, we somewhat guiltily hauled it off to the basement, where it kept company with the mice, spiders, and those horrible multi- legged creatures that Vince’s sister refers to as “doggies”.

Three years passed, and we were moving again. When clearing out the basement, I ruthlessly decided to get rid of The Beast once and for all. It was too big. There was no basement at our new apartment. It was time.

It was a warm July day. I decided to set it out on the sidewalk in front of our house to see if I could entice someone to take it home. Sure enough, when I came out an hour or so later, The Beast was gone. HURRAH!!! I hoped it had gone to a good home. Time went by, and I forgot all about it.

Then. Weeks later, Vince was at his classical guitar lesson. After the lesson, Vince’s teacher mentioned a strange instrument that a friend had found on the sidewalk and brought to him as a gift. Vince blanched. His teacher left the room and came back with THE BEAST!! Vince admitted that it had been ours, and somehow it found its way back to our house again. Clearly, it is a loyal creature.

Now The Beast has taken up residence in our music room, where it leans on our big black bookcase, whiskers twitching, as we practice harp, guitar and accordion. Occasionally it emits a sympathetic high-pitched “Ching!”, particularly if it gets bumped, but for the most part we co- exist peacefully.

That being said, we do need to figure out a proper place to send our not so wee Beasty.

Any takers?

The Beast hangs out in our living room.

There is nothing quite like being part of BuskerFest. 

Where else can you mingle with magicians, stiltdancers, balloon monsters, giant dinosaurs, musicians, contortionists, hula hoop artists, puppeteers, fire jugglers, and whipmasters from all over the world?   These unique and creative people can levitate tables, fold themselves into suitcases, escape from chains, juggle knives while unicycling, and tapdance while playing the trumpet.  It is truly a thrill to walk among them for a few days.

We were honoured to share the stage multiple times with Bence Sarkadi, a marionette artist from Budapest, Hungary.  His show was magical, and entranced audiences both young and old (including Vince and I)!  We even collaborated with him for Buskerbrunch - a special event for members of Epilepsy Toronto - and the Grand Finale at Yonge/Dundas Square. 

I can't even begin to imagine the amount of work that goes into organizing a festival of this size and scope.  A big thank you to Mackenzie Muldoon (Entertainment Director),  Christine Oakey, all the incredible volunteers, and staff at Epilepsy Toronto for all of their hard work. I've heard rumours that the number of visitors at the new Yonge Street location doubled from last year!  Incredible.

Thank you to our friends who came to hear us, and for everyone who stopped to listen and feed our suitcase.

And thank you to everyone who, by attending, supported Epilepsy Toronto.

We can't wait for next year!!

H. and V.  xo

We were lucky to work with Toronto photographer Jona Stuart again this year.   Here are a few shots from the festival. Thanks Jona!

Having fun in Trinity Square.

Stepdancing on Yonge Street!

At Yonge and Dundas.

With one of the awesome Stilt Dancers!

Guitar Man!

Trinity Square.

Grand Finale, collaboration with marionette master Bence Sarkadi from Hungary.

Only one more sleep until Scotiabank BuskerFest's opening day!

Tonight the performers will meet for orientation, and we will find out our schedule for the next 4 days.  We'll post details soon.

You can download the Scotiabank BuskerFest app for festival info, performer bios, maps, schedules... and...wait for it... the hilarious Buskercam! 

Also, check out these 2 articles about me and Vince!

Inside Toronto

Cityzen Urban Lifestyle blog

Yay!

H. xo

The countdown to Scotiabank Toronto BuskerFest is on - and posters are going up in subways and bus shelters across the city.  I am very excited to appear with Violet (as well as Kate Mior/Marie Antoinette, Fireguy and Seb Whipits) in this year's poster! I saw my first one last week on the subway, and couldn't stop smiling.

We've learned some new songs that we think you will like, and we are looking forward to experiencing BuskerFest's new digs on Yonge St.

Come one, come all - August 22-25.  We'll post details about our
performance times once we know more.

See you there!

H. and V.  xo