Folk & Blues Busker Extraordinaire

FIND PK DWYER BUSKING  
When PK Dwyer doesn't have a scheduled event you will often find him busking his original Folk Roots & Blues at the Seattle Pike Place Market around the late morning through the Noon hours.  Look and listen for Mighty PK in front of Starbucks Coffee, the busking spot known as The Bridge, or Left Bank Books.

PK also occasionally drops in to Busk at the West Seattle Farmers Market, the Edmonds Summer Market and various locations throughout the beautiful Puget Sound area.

Show a Busker some Love today and Tip ♡ Hearty Folks!

Notations & News

SUNSET SUPPER AT PIKE PLACE MARKET 2021 EDITION 

Hooray! Folk and Blues busker Extraordinaire PK Dwyer is honored to be performing at the 2021 Sunset Supper At Pike Place Market. Mighty PK will be playing a one hour set starting at 8:45 pm.

Sunset Supper at Pike Place Market celebrates the 114th anniversary of Seattle’s historic Market. All proceeds from the event directly support the Pike Place Market Foundation’s Recovery Fund to keep the Market community healthy, stable and whole through the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This Event is Sold Out!

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME 

The Ubiquitous and Effervescent Busker PK Dwyer will give a special performance of all original Folk Roots & Blues at the Arlington Farmers Market on Saturday, August 7 at Noon - 2:00 pm.

PK will be performing material from his song catalogue that now spans over 50 years featuring his signature vocals, quick fingered picking and slide work on guitar and fireball harmonica riffs along with a selection of beautiful and dynamic songs on autoharp. 

Location: Legion Memorial Park / 114 N Olympic Avenue - Arlington, WA

This is PK Dwyer's first performance at the Arlington Farmers Market.  Show PK and his music some Love and Tip the Jar ♡ Hearty Folks!

SWING INTO SUMMER WITH PK DWYER 

Summer is in full swing and it's time to get your groove on with PK Dwyer! 

PK Dwyer proudly brings his all original Folk Roots and Blues to the Queen Anne Farmers Market on Thursday, July 29 @ 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Mighty PK will present material from his song catalogue that now spans over 50 years featuring his signature quick fingered picking and slide work on guitar and fireball harmonica riffs interspersed with a selection of beautiful and dynamic songs on autoharp. 

The Queen Anne Farmers Market Builds Community, Supports Farmers and always Champions the Local Guy. All the action takes place high atop Queen Anne Hill at Queen Anne Avenue North and West Crockett Street in Seattle, Washington.

Be There!

MUSIC TO DANCE TO REVIEWED IN AUTOHARP QUARTERLY 

Autoharp Quarterly Fall 2020

Reviews:
PK Dwyer - Music To Dance To
By Nan Bovingdon
__________________

     What is Busking? Music shared in its most natural form, perhaps. Out there on the street, in the park, at the outdoor market, down on the corner--the performer's offering to people passing by or stopping to watch and listen.
     A shy player myself, when I see someone "out there among 'em" making music for sheer enjoyment, particularly if they're inventive, entertaining, musical--I start digging for bills.
     What busking usually doesn't have is a studio, recording gear, and engineering, a way to remember what happened after the magic moment.
     This is why I was immediately interested in the new CD, Music To Dance To, by PK Dwyer, a long time Seattle and Pacific Northwest street performer/busker/festival star.
     According to information on his extensive website--(website? In other words, he's a professional, not just a friendly guy who decided one day to go out and play on the corner), "PK Dwyer's long love affair with Busking began in the 1970s, performing on the UCLA campus and the streets of Los Angeles. He is a year-round busker at the Pike Street Market and Farmers' Markets throughout the Puget Sound area, and at a variety of quirkier arts and music festivals. He tours, performs, and plays out roughly 300 dates a year."
     His face adorns so many music and arts announcements and posters, one reviewer referred to him as festivals' poster boy.
     His CD's go all the way back to the mid '70s, when he recorded with over a dozen accompanying players, up through this current offering, with only himself on guitar, harmonica, and vocals, a more natural arrangement for a true, old-style market place busker. Early work speaks of expertise, experience, and musicianship, but who can stand on a corner of the market with 18 other musicians?
     "Music To Dance To" features all original compositions, except "The Busking Life" by the legendary Louvin Brothers, with a little help from PK and his wife, Carol.
     The title song is a lively waltz, with lots of autoharp and engaging natural vocal, in the old folk singer style. Reminiscent of some of the old Folkways albums, before 'pretty' came along.
     "Pledge Drive," with the request/demand, "Put your hand in your pocket, pull out a bill...Stand on your head, let the coins fall out" is a blues with lots of harmonica and slide guitar--a good-natured but firm reminder to fork over some change and folding money. It sounds old except for the line, "You can always find me on Spotify."
     The harp is rough and basic compared to some of the solo playing we've become accustomed to, but rhythmic and appropriate to the lyrics and style of a Busker, who is probably on the move even when stationed in one spot.
     "I Married Well" immediately reminded me of Dylan's thumping guitar and singing a rock and roll pattern, funky and fun. ("Can't feel my fingers, can't feel my toes...I coulda been lonely, but I Married Well.")
     "The Busking Life" features lots of interesting autoharp. The lyric is a defense of a life some friends say is a wasted one, "But what is a friend who wants you to fail?" And he LOVES the freedom, travel, and hard work of "The Busking Life."
     "The Welfare Song" and "Higher Wage" are about the dignity and genuine needs of the traditionally down and out. "Why don't your lift me up with a higher wage, why don't you raise me up with a higher wage, why don't you cheer me up with a higher wage? That's just what's needed in this day and age"
     The harmony and semi shouted vocal on "Higher Wage" and interlocking guitar and harmonica on "The Welfare Song" ("being on welfare is a 24 hour job") are as interesting and varied as the messages delivered.
     The collection ranges from gentle and pretty waltzes, like "The Gods Are Watching Over Us," to bluesy slide guitar and harmonica duets, all played and sung--and mostly written--by the one-man band, busker PK Dwyer.
     It's very different from material submitted for review here previously, but different in a welcome and exciting way.

42

Autoharp Quarterly magazine is currently available through d'Aigle Autoharps and Folk Instruments

Unfortunately Autoharp Quarterly will cease publication in 2021 after the Summer/Fall issue

PK DWYER PERFORMING AT QUEEN ANNE FARMERS MARKET 

Legendary Busker PK Dwyer brings his original Folk Roots and Blues to the Queen Anne Farmers Market on Thursday, July 29 @ 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Mighty PK will present material from his song catalogue that now spans 50 years featuring his signature quick fingered picking and slide work on guitar and fireball harmonica riffs interspersed with a selection of beautiful and dynamic songs on autoharp.

The Queen Anne Farmers Market Builds Community, Supports Farmers and always Champions the Local Guy. All the action takes place high atop Queen Anne Hill at Queen Anne Avenue North and West Crockett Sreet in Seattle, Washington

Grab your shopping bags and Go!

PK DWYER PERFORMS AT SEDRO WOOLLEY FARMERS MARKET 

Spring has fully sprung!  Get your groove on with Folk & Blues Busker Extraordinaire PK Dwyer and the Sedro Woolley Farmers Market on Wednesday, May 26.

PK Dwyer will give a special outdoor performance of original Folk Roots & Blues from his song catalogue featuring his signature quick fingered picking and slide work on guitar and fireball harmonica riffs along with a selection of beautiful and dynamic songs on autoharp.  PK performs from 3:00 - 6:00 and the Sedro-Woolley Farmers Market runs until 7:00 pm.  The location to take part in all this Goodness is Hammer Heritage Square at Ferry & Meltcalf Street in beautiful Sedro Woolley, Washington.

It all happens Rain or Shine.  Be There!

Be a friend to the Sedro-Woolley Farmers Market on facebook

Be a friend to the Art and Music of PK Dwyer by Tipping the Jar ♡ Hearty Folks!

NEW PK DWYER ALBUM AVAILABLE NOW 

PK Dwyer's 2020 country tinged folk and blues release Music To Dance To is a collection of songs that lift and whirl the listener like a nostalgic amusement park ride.  Each of the 11 tunes is a musical gem waiting to be unearthed.  Six of the songs [Music To Dance To Wish I Knew Deep Inside The Evergreen State The Buskin' Life Buskers Lament and The Gods Are Watching Over Us] are infused with the magic and twinkle of the autoharp.  Pledge Drive The Welfare Song and Trouble feature the bravado of PK's slide guitar playing and I Married Well is a classic PK Dwyer tune with his raucous guitar and signature harmonica.  Higher Wage is done a cappella and is the crown jewel of this stellar album.

Team Dwyer and the King Pin Head Music crew are very pleased and proud of our latest musical and artistic effort.  We recommend Music To Dance To - Pledge Drive - Deep Inside The Evergreen State and Higher Wage as the albums must listen to tracks.

Listen and download today: Music To Dance To  Enjoy!

Album cover by Ailisa Newhall / Pinehurst Photography

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Shows & Events

Previous events

Date Event Location
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Waterfront Market At Ruston Tacoma Tacoma
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Waterfront Market At Ruston Tacoma Tacoma
Waterfront Market At Ruston Tacoma Tacoma
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