After an amazing 3-day Buskers’ Pow-Wow on the canal we’d like to extend a massive thank you to everyone who attended, but especially Eric Ellman of Bards on Boats and the Union Tavern for hosting us. A big hand too for Sam Jordan from the Musicians’ Union who joined us for the Know Your Rights workshop, and Julia Gregory (Local Democracy Reporter) who joined us on Tuesday afternoon and wrote this article.
We set out to protest the Kensington & Chelsea busking bans but I feel here we now have the bones of a London-wide grassroots performers group, which will be able to take a more co-ordinated and holistic approach to busking across the capital rather than seeing pitches and issues in isolation. If this is something which you’d like to be part of please check out the Keep Streets Live in London Facebook group.
As you’ve all been so awesome we’d love to help you out so we’ve added a few of your tracks to our Spotify playlist and if you’ve got any photos/video from the event use the hashtags #KeepStreetsLive#SayNo2PSPO and #BuskersPowWow to make sure we can find them to like/share etc. Alternatively you can send by email to contact@keepstreetslive.com
We’re currently looking at the possibility of another canal-based London event later in the year, and certainly another full day of busking workshops in Manchester in early-November. If you’d like us to do something in your local area please let us know.
If you missed our workshops or would like to re-cap you can find the livestreams here:
“Busking, public performance for the entertainment and spare coins of passers-by, “may be the world’s second oldest profession,” muses David Fisher, a recording artist, busker and spokesperson for Keep Streets Live, an organisation which protects Britains’s rich legacy of spontaneous open air music and art.
An emerging cashless economy, however, and Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), such as the one passed last month by the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea which bans or restricts busking over much of Portobello Road and other prime busking locations, threaten a tradition that is documented as far back as Roman times.
Against this backdrop, Keep Streets Live is organising a 3-day street performers’ pow-wow, August 27-29, designed by and for artists, and open to the general public.” -Eric Ellman of Bards on Boats.
Day 1 we’ll be opening the event at midday outside South Kensington tube with a protest busk to raise awareness of the issues. We have a diverse range of performers for you to enjoy including magic from Nathan Earl.
Around 3pm we’ll be moving on to the Union Tavernfor our first Buskers’ PowWow which will be a mixture of discussions and entertainment featuring street performers from Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster and further afield.
Day 2 @ the Union Tavern – talk show format with panel discussions and performances.
The Molly Anna- our event HQ moored outside the Union Tavern
We are currently looking for more people to be involved in this project in any capacity; musicians, speakers, community groups, art lovers. In fact anyone who has an interest in protecting access to our public spaces, and ensuring they retain their vibrancy. Please email contact@keepstreetslive.com
Kensington & Chelsea is a divided borough with a rich cultural heritage that is increasingly under threat. When beautiful moments like the one at the top of this post are designated as ‘antisocial and criminal’ we have to stand up and be counted. The Council should be supporting and encouraging their buskers rather than marginalising them and pushing them out. In these times of austerity they should be grateful for what we add to the borough. At no cost to the authorities or taxpayer we provide quality art that is accessible to all regardless of income or circumstance.
New busking guidelines – the first of their kind in Cumbria – will be launched today to coincide with Street Music Month.
Cumbria Police, Carlisle City Council and representatives from ‘Keep Streets Live’ have collaborated on the new Guide to Busking.
A copy of The Guide to Busking in Carlisle can be found at www.carlisle.gov.uk and hard copies are also available from the Carlisle Tourist Information Centre and the reception of Carlisle City Council.
Inspector Di Bradbury from the Carlisle local focus team said:
“This has been a great piece of collaborative work bringing improved and strengthened relationships with all those involved. The Code of Conduct will support Carlisle City Centre residents, businesses and those who come to entertain.
The Police and the City Council want Carlisle City Centre to offer balanced, fairly located pitches and a welcoming place for street entertainers to visit and play, whilst supporting the residents and businesses to also have a fair and balanced experience.”
Director of Keep Streets Live Chester Bingley added:
“It has been fantastic to work with Carlisle City Council and Cumbria Police to produce this guidance, which puts the city on the map, alongside York, Liverpool and Chester as one of the most forward-thinking and welcoming places to perform in Northern England.
We hope this leads the way to a similar approach across the rest of the county. The official release of the document will also coincide with the beginning of Keep Streets Live’s first Street Music Month which will celebrate and raise awareness of busking across the UK.”
A spokesperson from Carlisle City Council said:
“We’d like to thank all our partners in the Police, Keep Streets Live and the busking community for their support. We welcome busking in the city centre but as some areas are more sensitive to noise, the guidelines set out some clear advice on what is and is not permitted.”
Discussions with partners started after a complaint was received regarding City and Police powers in relation to busking.
“The Moot is delighted that Public Space Protection Order is no longer being used against buskers in Carlisle. The city is a great place to busk. By following Home Office Guidelines and choosing not to use a PSPO against buskers & by working with Keep Streets Live, other agencies and the local community to develop a responsible busking guide, the City of Carlisle is leading by example.”
Due to a lobbying by a vociferous minority the council is currently looking into the possibility of bylaws to impose damaging restrictions or potentially even completely ban busking.
