Seattle buskers bring grooves to downtown streets during All Star Week

Dozens of local artists are performing in parks and on street corners around the ballpark this week during the midsummer classic. With tens of thousands of baseball fans heading to Seattle, musicians say it’s an opportunity to showcase the city's diverse music scene.

On Friday afternoon, Pioneer Square’s Occidental Park was filled with sunshine and the sound of Kate Olson's alto saxophone.

Her music echoed off the ivy-covered brick buildings that surround the park as people enjoyed lunch and played Wiffle ball.

Olson is one of the many buskers performing in Seattle parks during baseball’s All Star Week being hosted at the Mariners' ballpark. Artists can be found in Westlake, the Chinatown-International District, Pioneer Square, and close to the ballpark in SoDo.

“The Seattle music scene is so much more diverse than just a guy with a guitar,” Olson said.

As she played, Olson was surrounded by brightly colored electronics and foot pedals.

“That's probably pretty different than what most people are seeing,” she said. “I would love to see even more diversity in busking in Seattle. I think it's really fun to see what the city has to offer.”

Seattle Parks and Recreation said there will be 28 busking events for a total of 56 hours of entertainment between Friday and Tuesday, the day of the All Star Game.

Just a few blocks away from Olson that day was John Doorman, another busker performing in City Hall Park next to the King County Courthouse. Doorman said he’s played lap steel guitar since 1952 and has busked a few times around town.

On Friday afternoon he sat in a straw hat with his guitar in his lap and metal picks on each finger. A chalkboard sandwich sign in front of Doorman read, “Busker of the day!”

Artists like Doorman are paid a stipend, make tips, and can sell their CDs. Most performers also include their Venmo and social media links for fans to follow online.

Buskers won’t just be out during the All Star Week but throughout downtown during the summer. Olson encouraged people to get outside, enjoy a park, and take in some local art.

“People want to be brought into the music,” Olson said, “and that interactive aspect of it is really fun.”