Len's News, Notes, and Stuff

Shibaten: A Unique, World-Traveling Didgeridoo Street Musician

Toronto is home to a wide variety of artists and performers, some mainstream like Chantal Kreviazuk and some definitely off the beaten track like Shibaten. Shibaten is a busker (“street musician”) originally from Osaka, Japan who, I have recently read, currently lives in Toronto. You may even have seen him in person yourself, as he plays in Toronto from time to time in between his many travels around the world throughout the year.

You will probably recognize Shibaten when you see him performing because he uses a digeridoo (the Australian aboriginal wind instrument), sits on a djembe drum that he plays with his hands, and has other small musical instruments at his side. He is quite unlike any other musician you will have seen anywhere else.

I was first introduced to Shibaten’s music at Toronto Buskerfest 2007 – or at least I think it was 2007. I thought right from the start that his music is pretty cool, but being one of my first Buskerfest experiences I was trying to take everything in and didn’t spend as much time taking in his music as I would now like to have had.

His music and his style are unique – if not unique in all the world, certainly unique in Toronto and in many of the cities he visits and performs in. If you get the chance to see him perform downtown or at a festival, be sure to take some time to enjoy his music.