The late, great Stuart McLean would have worn a large smile at the 2018 Okotoks Buskersfest. The beloved CBC radio star was partial to the ukulele and there were at least three of the mini guitar-like instruments being played at downtown Okotoks during this year’s festival. Including the one being played by Aubrey Hardy, a Grade 6 student at Ecole Percy Pegler School, who finished second in the people’s choice selection. “I like singing and I like playing the ukulele and I thought it would be fun,” Hardy said of her first time in the event. She had a tough teacher in learning to play the ukulele. “There was a talent show I was at and there was a ukulele there and I thought I want to learn how to play that,” Hardy said. “So, I started teaching it to myself about a year ago… It’s super fun.” She also learned one of the most basic rules of buskering – people need to hear you. Location, location, location is key. Hardy originally set up shop on the more west end of Elizabeth Street, before moving in front of On Tap where there was more foot traffic. She collected a bit more money and, more importantly, votes. “I liked how people came and listened to me and were smiling and having fun,” she said. She also learned buskering takes the stamina of playing basketball for the Foothills Falcons – something her brothers and sister have done. “I got blisters from playing for four hours,” Hardy said. The top winner was Carter Randall, a juggler from Calgary who set up shop and threw up softballs and other stuff practically right next door to where Hardy strummed her ukulele. Sierra Stuber, a vocalist with the Alberta High School of Fine Arts, was third. Guitar player Kingston Peters was fourth. [email protected]
