Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Bolger. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Michael, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Busking (playing music on the street) has been a constant inspiration for my musical career. I’ve turned to busking during to earn extra money, network, and practice. I even busk for therapy!
During the pandemic, I had a profound reason to busk for therapeutic reasons: my ex wife was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in Fall 2020. We have a child together. As the pandemic shifted the musical economy drastically, I capitalized on my busking act as a source of employment and a healthy source of therapy during that stressful time.
I became more and more radicalized as a busker during my ex’s cancer battle. I sought out tense situations to push the boundaries between private commerce and 1st amendment rights. Outdoor dining became a boon, and I swept in to perform for the captive audiences of outdoor diners.
My ex passed in fall 2022. I continued busking when time and schedule allowed. I started playing clubs again, and would often busk in the neighborhood of a club to beat rush hour traffic. On April 15, 2023, I was asked to stop busking on a pedestrian mall in Laguna Beach. The officer informed me I needed a permit. I researched the permit and found it had glaring first amendment violations. I sought legal council and became the plaintiff in a first amendment case aimed at revising Laguna’s busking rules.
This case has been an incredible learning experience for me, and my advocacy for busking rights has only just begun.
It’s important to write/record/perform your own music. I’ve embarked on that creative journey and it’s very fulfilling. It’s important to bring passion to your students as an educator. Busking is the source of that passion. It has crafted my creative voice and taught me how to connect with the audience.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Mike Bolger- LA native born multi-instrumentalist/composer/performer/educator. I started playing professionally in high-school. I stayed in LA to pursue college (UCLA, CALARTS), and my networks grew organically and exponentially since those days.
The instrument that really defined my career is the accordion. I was given an accordion back in high school so my “garage band” could start playing acoustic shows in coffee shops. At first I resented having to play the ungainly and dorky accordion, but it soon began opening doors for my career.
I’m a classically trained pianist and trumpet player. I played in orchestras and pursued trumpet performance degrees at UCLA eventually finishing at CalArts with a BFA in Jazz Trumpet performance. The accordion is anything but a classical instrument.
The accordion became a musical passport. I’ve played Mexican, Colombian, Argentinian, Italian, French, Balkan, Zydeco, Country-Western, Polka, and Klezmer music because of the accordion. Exposure to these various folk music traditions informed my approach to jazz. I approach jazz as America’s urban folk music.
Many in the jazz community think jazz is too elevated to be considered folk music. I believe this academic approach to jazz is alienating for the audience. I love connecting with my audience. I seek to bring this folksy approach to the music- whether elevated “art jazz” or playing on the street.
The accordion has benefited my career more than just by informing my musical philosophy- It has become my busking act. I figured out how to play the trumpet and accordion simultaneously. I can play my repertoire while accompanying myself when I busk. Busking has opened so many doors for my career. It really has been a blessing.
I’m in the process of recording my jazz originals as a trumpet player. My first EP features 3 songs on trumpet and one song on accordion. It’s called “Bolger’s Crystals.” I recorded the album live, straight to tape, and pressed vinyl straight from the tape masters. More albums will be coming soon!
You can follow me at:
@mikebolgermusic
mikebolgermusic.com
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
As a musician I am understanding of the difficulty live music venues have in maintaining their business model. A full cabaret/liquor license is expensive. Venues that don’t have the licenses risk getting fined, and venues with the licenses often don’t pursue their live music programming.
It would be good if venues that had performance licenses were required to maintain live music on their calendars at least once a week. Perhaps a public/private partnership could help to incentivize maintaining a performance schedule. Venues become cultural institutions and when they decide to stop hosting bands it has a sad ripple effect in the live music scene as a whole.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I have traveled a lot and brought my music worldwide. One thing I’ve learned is that American music is respected worldwide- despite what our politics may be doing. It is rewarding to carry on as an ambassador of American folk musics like jazz and blues.
Although our nation is often criticized for our politics- especially nowadays, I’ve found that audience members respect American musicians because our number one export is our culture, our arts, and our music. Not our bombs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mikebolgermusic.com
- Instagram: @mikebolgermusic
- Facebook: mikebolgermusic
- Youtube: mikebolgermusic
