PORTLAND, OR – April 13, 2025 – Downtown Portland came alive with music and celebration this weekend as the first-ever Buskathon concluded with the Busk-Off Grand Finale at Director Park. Nine exceptional street performers—finalists selected from a field of 30 artists who played more than 200 sets across 18 venues from April 10–12—took the stage for a high-energy musical showdown.

The Busk-Off was judged by a dynamic panel of Portland music and event professionals: Christina Fuller, co-owner of Fuller Events and the Portland Blues Festival; Agyei Marshall, a multi-instrumentalist and producer; Tony Ozier, a renowned musician and Portland’s Funk Pioneer; Jennifer Carrizo, Senior Talent Buyer for McMenamins; and David Pollack, co-founder of Curbside Serenade. Emceeing the event was Inanna Miss, Portland’s own Guinness World Record holder for the tallest Drag Queen, whose energy and flair brought an unforgettable spark to the afternoon.


finalists for the Rising Star Award (ages 16–25) were:

  • Mathilda Schmidt

  • Shannon Wiancko

  • Angela Thomas

  • Greta Lau

And the Winners are:

Portland’s Favorite Busker 2025: Maeve Stier

Maeve Stier captivated both judges and audience with a transportive performance that evoked the charm of a Parisian street. Blending accordion, opera arias, and elements of mime and immersive theater, Maeve’s multidisciplinary talents shone brightly during the final Busk-Off. With roots in classical music and a flair for storytelling, she delivered a performance that was both artful and unforgettable—earning her the grand prize and the title of Portland’s Favorite Busker.

Rising Star Award: Greta Lau

Our Rising Star Award—presented in partnership with Friends of Noise—went to Greta Lau, whose electrifying performance had the audience rocking. A proud Pacific Northwest native and independent songwriter, Greta's original songs explore themes of identity, relationships, and queer joy. Her debut indie folk album, evergreen, was self-written and produced in her Washington home studio. Now based in Portland and pursuing a degree at PSU, Greta represents the next generation of Portland musical talent.

Finalists for Portland’s Favorite Busker were:

  • Colescott Rubin

  • Jeremy Famà

  • Brassless Chaps

  • Maeve Stier

  • CSET PM Band