UK busking culture: Cherished tradition or public nuisance?
From the North to the South, the art of street performance is part of the culture of countless British towns and cities. Encompassing a diverse range of expressions, this longstanding tradition intersects entertainment, community and public spaces. But it hasn’t been without its controversies over the years and recent events have shown that anti-busking sentiment could be making a comeback.So, how has public perception of busking changed over the years? And what does the future hold?We’ll explore these topics in greater detail below.
What is the history of busking in the UK?
From French troubadours and Mexican mariachis to Russian skomorokhs and Romanis, musicians have been performing on streets since ancient times.
Bards and court minstrels were the earliest ancient English equivalent of buskers, spreading news, telling tales and playing music for people as they wandered from town to town. Despite winning the hearts of the crowd, they were often seen as immoral and bothersome by the upper classes and the Church.
In Victorian London, public music performances were one of the hottest topics of the times, even being debated in Parliament in 1863. An influx of immigrant musicians playing flutes, violins, harps, and other instruments began serenading the public with their foreign music, pleasing many people but also creating disturbances for the middle and literary classes.
During this period, there was a significant number of professionals working from home and who needed silence to make their living, including lawyers, ministers, tutors and composers. The captivating sounds of public music performances permeated through the streets of the city, penetrated through brickwork and interfered with people’s ability to concentrate.
This period illustrates the tensions that have always existed between buskers and certain demographics of the public. But since then, perceptions of busking have generally become more positive.
What does busking look like in modern Britain?
Modern audiences typically identify busking experiences with feelings of novelty, community and culture. The latter is particularly significant in the UK, which has some of the most diverse and culturally rich locations in the world. Many British cities are vibrant busking hubs where countless musicians take the opportunity to share their art in front of the public and try to make a name for themselves.In fact, there’s a surprising number of famous musicians who made their start busking in the UK, including:
- Ed Sheeran started busking on the streets of Galway as a young lad, before starting to busk in London aged 18
- Rod Stewart began busking with a harmonica player in 1962, before joining The Dimensions the following year
- Passenger, also known as Michael David Rosenberg, busked in England and Australia for 5 years after leaving school aged 16
UK buskers are mostly known for offering free entertainment and creating a sense of community and connection wherever they perform. But they also provide lesser-known benefits, including giving directions to the public, keeping lonely people company, and generating foot traffic for nearby businesses. Perhaps most significantly, they build the UK’s reputation as a hub for live music and attract countless music tourists, who contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to the economy each year.
What are the current regulations concerning busking?
While many consider busking a welcome and cherished part of UK culture, there are also those who view it more as a nuisance. Just like in Victorian times, there are those among local residents, businesses and the passing public who would rather not be disturbed by the sounds of public music performances – no matter how pleasing the playing is.
The tension between these opposing views can be seen in the current regulations around busking in the UK, which state that performers must be older than 14 years and are only allowed to accept voluntary donations.
Different areas have additional regulations which may require performers to have busking licences, not make too much noise or block public areas, or only busk for limited periods of time. Local authorities are increasingly requiring that buskers have public liability insurance for musicians before they can perform. Busking in specific areas where silence is needed can also be prohibited, for example near hospitals, churches, funeral homes and cemeteries.
What does the future hold for UK busking?
Busking restrictions could become tighter in the UK if anti-busking sentiments rise, as they are currently in two major UK cities.
London see could face harsher rules soon after more than 5,000 complaints have been made about buskers to council officials in the past two years. The current licensing scheme is now under review, in an attempt to ensure that residents and businesses near tourist hotpots like Leicester Square aren’t impacted by noisy performances or disruptive crowds. Similarly, Glasgow has launched a consultation to determine whether busking is a nuisance in the city.
Are these the signs of the beginning of the end for one of the UK’s traditions? Or are they simply the latest blows in an age-old battle between budding music performers and public peace and quiet? For now, it’s too early to tell. But if these latest developments are anything to judge by, the tension between the two camps is unlikely to disappear any time soon.