Summer sun, free tunes: 'We're literally just busking'

Tanner Dane, a 25-year-old Chicago-based musician originally from Elgin, Illinois, has built momentum by busking during the past summer and a half at AIDS Garden Chicago in Lakeview. What started as casual, improvised street performances has turned into regular draws, with fans filling the area in large numbers and shows announced on short notice via Instagram and TikTok. Dane performs solo and with his band, Hollyy, alongside friends from his Elgin days. The article traces his path from childhood jamming in an attic and recording original songs on GarageBand and CDs to the community-focused approach that keeps the performances “literally just busking.”