Street performance is a unique form of artistic expression that blends tradition, activism, and community engagement. Across the world, buskers shape city culture, using their art to tell stories, challenge social norms, and bring people together.

An iconic figure of New York’s street performance history and an inspiration for this project is Moondog. Moondog became a fixture on 6th Avenue during the 1950s and 1960s, often seen in a homemade Viking costume, performing his minimalist compositions on entirely self-crafted instruments. His music, blending elements of classical, jazz, and Native American rhythms, garnered admiration from contemporaries like Charlie Parker and Allen Ginsberg. Moondog’s presence on the streets of New York challenged conventional notions of performance spaces and artistic personas.

Street performance has long been an integral part of New York City, serving as a platform for artistic expression, community engagement, and cultural exchange. In the 1960s, Washington Square Park became the epicenter of the Greenwich Village folk revival. Every Sunday, musicians gathered around the park’s fountain, playing guitars, banjos, and drums. The park became a musical commons, where strangers met, expression was celebrated, and a community formed around live performance. ​This vibrant scene launched the careers of artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, transforming the park into a communal space where music and activism intertwined.​

AMPED.NYC builds upon this legacy by documenting and sharing the work of today’s street performers. Through high-quality recordings, videos, interviews, and photography, we aim to preserve street performance as a vital and accessible form of art, reflecting the city’s diversity and ever changing relationship with the arts.