(SHREWSBURY) What started as a tribute to busker Ben Bebbington by his family and friends has swelled to event with over 40 musical acts. Ben was tragically killed in a senseless murder by two teenagers in September of 2012.Made up of over 200 people who filled the town with a carnival atmosphere, Happy Days in Shrewsbury took place in the town’s beautiful medieval centre. Raising over £10,000, it was a celebration of community, music and talent all in glorious sunshine. It also raised awareness and funds for The Shrewsbury Ark - a charity that had supported Ben in recent years and meant a huge amount to him.

A known busker within the town, Ben was an excellent musician and would often play his guitar in some late great impromptu jams. Other muses would join him after-hours and perform standards and original so...

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(WWW) Every once in a while, the topic of how many buskers there actually are comes up. A few years ago, there was some discussion about the chaps who filmed their performce in Antarctica. It mentioned that all three almost froze as part of a world-wide performance. This only goes to show that buskers are on every continent.How many buskers are there in the whole wide world? Nobody really knows. We can only make an educated estimate based on limited data. An article at AskWonder.com tackles the issue although with certain assumptions. Do the math.

At sometime in the early 1990's, there were approximately ten thousand buskers in Europe alone. This would account for the majority of the planet. The rest of the continents would then total the answer.

Check the link below for more data on the global number...

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(FISHERMANS WHARF) It looks like the Amazing Johnathan is returning to his roots and taking a break from his Las Vegas show. Years ago, the former street performer had his show at the Golden Nugget...or was it Fitzgeralds? Circus Circus? Anyway, I forget where John Szeles's show was but he's heading where it all began.

The insult comic, the Amazing Johnathan, has built his show over the years into a solid, if not down right weird, Las Vegas show that probably has more jokes per minute than any current show running. It also drops more F-bombs than Pesci in "Casino". With a 3-act structure, the former busker has shown others the way to create and perform Vegas-style.

I believe Carrot Top, like Sinbad, first started performing on the streets of Westwood in L.A. It's seems like a while...

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(NEW YORK) Times Square, the self-proclaimed "Crossroads of the World," is the top destination for tourists hoping for the quintessential Gotham experience. An article by John Tierney in City Journal magazine takes us through a 2+ decades trip of Times Square. Recent developments have converted automobile traffic lanes into lanes for street-performers and street-vendors."Fake Buddhist monks begging for money, living statues, the Naked Cowboy, topless women, and a horde of costumed cartoon characters are all pressuring tourists to pay them for a picture - because nothing says New York like a selfie with the Incredible Hulk."

"A remade Times Square could start taking shape at the end of this year when the new plaza is supposed to be finished. By then, city officials hope to have...

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Buskers all over the world can help set a world record Sunday, June 14th, 2009 by busking locally at 12 noon for 25 minutes.

More information here