Street performers not part of this year’s Taste of Tasmania after overhaul

STREET performers and buskers have been axed from this year’s Taste of Tasmania — for one simple reason.

Street performers Samora Squid, left and Bodane Hatten are disappointed that Taste of Tasmania will not allow buskers or street performers at this year's event. Picture: PATRICK GEE

LOCAL  street performers have been bounced from this year’s Taste of Tasmania entertainment programme — because people found them annoying.

The performers say that the Hobart City Council’s decision to replace roving buskers with curated music-focused entertainment events signals the end of an era.

But Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey said the council had received feedback that the roving entertainment in past years had been irritating, and decided to move away from buskers as part of the overhaul of the event.

“We still believe in buskers, we still like to support them through Salamanca, and we have a ... policy that we still try to encourage young busking talent,” Ald. Hickey said.

Taste of Tasmania festival director Brooke Webb said this year’s program was new and fresh.

“If we presented the same program every year would people keep coming back? This is what refreshing it is all about. We have to keep changing,” Ms Webb said.

Sword swallower and contortionist Samora Squid and magician Bodane Hatten have each performed at past Taste Festivals, and say the decision is disappointing.

Mr Hatten said the Taste had a reputation that enticed performers to attend from all over the world, but also provided young performers with an opportunity to learn the craft.

”People vie to get here to do it because they’ve heard (of the Taste),” Mr Hatten said.

“For street performers from the next generation what (this decision) is saying to them is ‘if you want to do street shows then you better pick up a guitar.’

“There’s nowhere else, really, that street performers can perform in Hobart at that scale, except for the Taste.”

Mr Squid said he contacted the council earlier this year to express his interest in working at the Taste, but heard nothing in response.

“It doesn’t seem to make any sense to take out one of the main attractions of your event,” he said.

There will be 119 musical acts this year, comprised almost entirely of local artists, following the council’s partnership with Music Tasmania.