Media release
27 January 2015
For immediate release
2015 SCIRT World Buskers Festival a success
Warm weather, a return to the city’s Arts Centre and a host of terrific acts have combined to make the 22nd annual SCIRT
World Buskers Festival a resounding success.
Hundreds of thousands of people attended free outdoor shows across the city at Christchurch’s beloved 10-day street
performance festival, and crowds packed indoor night-time performances including Boy with Tape on his Face: The
Beginning, Urzila Carlson and Buskers Burlesque, contributing to 33 sold out performances.
Mother Nature also helped keep the entertainment going with only one rain day cancelling daytime shows.
Festival Director Glen Pickering said: “It was great to see the support from Cantabrians and visitors from all over the
world. As my first year as director, it was incredible to witness the fantastic audiences who visit the festival and
bolster the performers. Christchurch has once again shown why this is one of the best street performance festivals in
the world through its continued support for the event.”
On the last day of the festival, The Press’s Iron Chicken award, presented to the best acts of the festival, went to The
English Gents for Best International Act and to Zane & Degge for Best New Zealand Act. Each winner was given $2,500 in prize money and an invitation to return to next year’s
festival.
In all, the festival featured 41 international and local acts, including jugglers, contortionists, musicians, dancers,
singers, and more had stages throughout the city from North Hagley Park to New Brighton.
Next year, the World Buskers Festival will be held 21-31 January 2016.
ENDS