Being a street performer can be frustrating, particularly at times when it seems like everyone is rushing by while no one stops to listen. It takes an especially good busker to get busy city dwellers to take a break from their busy routines for some music appreciation.
One of those special talents is Ashley Stevenson, who goes by the stage name Slim Freedom. She’s a singer and songwriter who’s been supporting herself over the last few years by performing at an underground venue: the Chicago subway. Videos of her performances have been a big hit on the internet and it might turn out to be a possible first step on the path toward greater fame. She has played to above-ground audiences, too, and is now working on her first studio album.
In the video posted below, Slim Freedom was playing at Washington / Dearborn on the Blue Line, a busy station in downtown Chicago, near Daley Plaza. The passerby who recorded it said, “On my way home from work tonight I saw one of the best performances I have ever seen — anywhere. This young women playing ‘Landslide’ absolutely stunned the entire crowd which erupted into applause as the train arrives.”
Stevie Nicks, of Fleetwood Mac, wrote “Landslide” a long way from Chicago. She was visiting a friend in Aspen, Colorado and found herself “looking out at the Rocky Mountains pondering the avalanche of everything that had come crashing down on us… At that moment, my life truly felt like a landslide in many ways.” It was a time when she was trying to decide whether or not to go back to school instead of pursuing her musical dreams.
What did you think of Ashley Stevenson’s interpretation of “Landslide”? We’d love to hear your review in the comments section below the video. Be sure to like and share, too!