BUSK-AID-L.A.: BUSKERS HIT THE STREETS TO BENEFIT L.A. WILDFIRE VICTIMS

3/10/2025

Performing at various “perches” on Sunset Blvd., artists will include Dustbowl Revival, Ruby Friedman Orchestra, Living Sisters, Tony Gilkyson, Rick Shea, Ted Russell Kamp, Hollywood Highsteppers, Fernando Perdomo, and Ilana Katz Katz

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The music community wasted no time in coming to the aid of those rendered homeless following the January wildfires in and around Los Angeles, with benefit concerts popping up in arenas, theaters, nightclubs and roadhouses. Now a fleet of buskers will take to the streets for Busk-Aid, a benefit featuring both local and out-of-town performers gathering in the 1800 block of the city’s Sunset Blvd., in Echo Park, on Sunday, March 30, from 3-8 p.m.

Busk-Aid is presented in association with the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, who will donate proceeds where most needed among musicians displaced in the fires. The Wild Honey Foundation, an organization devoted to passing on the passion, creativity, and idealism found in rock, R&B, folk, and pop music to future generations, is helping with logistics for the festival.

The event is free, with performers stationed at The Echo, Stories BooksCafe, Masa and Señor Fish, all located at or around the intersection of Sunset Blvd. and LeMoyne St. in the heart of L.A.’s Echo Park. Although the music will be free, Busk-Aid is asking for folks to donate to Sweet Relief's Natural Disaster Relief Fund on their contribution page HERE.

Among the artists performing at Busk-Aid (so far, with more TBA shortly): Dustbowl Revival, Ted Russell Kamp, the Living Sisters (Eleni Mandell and Becky Stark), Rick Shea, Tony Gilkyson, Carla Olson & Todd Wolfe, Ilana Katz Katz, Ruby Friedman Orchestra, Fernando Perdomo, and the Hollywood Highsteppers. There will be last-minute additions and surprises, including a few artists diverting from tour routing to join in.

The benefit is being organized by music industry veterans Cary Baker and Liz Garo. Baker was a 40-year music publicity executive at Capitol Records, I.R.S. Records and four other labels prior to writing a book about busking, Down on the Corner: Adventures in Busking & Street Music (Jawbone Press). Garo, who heads Stepping Stone presents, is a longtime Los Angeles concert promoter, organizing shows at such venues as the Regent Theater, Echo and Echoplex, Spaceland, Love Song Bar, among others.

Co-organizer Baker says of the event: “Chicago may be my hometown – and where I saw my first buskers … street blues musicians on Maxwell Street. But L.A., my home of 40 years, is where my soul will forever live. The wildfires were an unspeakable tragedy that affected many friends and acquaintances in the L.A. music scene. I felt the best way I could give back to the community – with busking on my mind following months of book promotion – was a busking event. Not all the participating artists have busking in their past, but all are looking forward to performing on the streets for the worthiest of causes. I was fortunate to partner with Liz Garo, one of L.A.’s most respected concert promoters, and Sweet Relief, which will put the proceeds where most needed. Thanks also to a few musicians — Ruby Friedman from Portland, Ilana Katz Katz, a well-known and very passionate subway musician from Boston, who are making long trips to join us down on the corner.”

Aric Steinberg, executive director of the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, says: “We absolutely love the idea of musicians helping musicians, and Busk-Aid is a perfect example. So many notable artists started out as street performers, and it’s so cool to see Cary, Liz and their team harnessing the power of busking to help Los Angeles musicians who have been displaced by the fires. We’re here to help disburse the funds and look forward to jamming in the streets with our supporters.”

Schedule
Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd.
3pm - 3:20pm Fat, Evil Children
3:40pm - 4pm Watertower Boys
Sticky Rice, 1801 W Sunset Blvd.
3:50pm - 4:10pm Craig Elkin
4:20pm - 4:40pm Carla Olson + Todd Wolfe
Masa, 1800 W Sunset Blvd.
4:30pm - 4:50pm Ilana Katz Katz
5pm - 5:20pm Fernando Perdomo
5:20pm   The Highsteppers cross the street
Shoe Palace, 1700 Sunset Blvd.
5:30pm - 5:50pm The Highsteppers
5:50pm - 6:10pm Ruby Friedman Orchestra
Stories (front), 1716 Sunset Blvd.
6:pm - 6:20pm   Ted Russell Kamp
6:30pm - 6:50pm   Living Sisters
Stories (patio), 1716 Sunset Blvd.
7: 10pm - 7:40pm Tony Gilkynson + Rick Shea
8pm - 8:30pm Dustbowl Revival
Set times subject to change / suggested set times.

For more information, please contact Cary Baker, [email protected]

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