Monday, October 9, 2017

Street shows in UK

One of the things I like to observe when on a trip abroad is the street show. They are interesting and entertaining. But if you look a little closer you will find the reason why some of them do these shows. Like for example Jess Josie Lee who is travelling the world funding herself doing what she likes best  – busking.  Clicked this while she was singing away to glory at Cornmarket Street, Oxford,  on 25th July.  


These two guys (known as the Mangor DUO) were too good on their guitar. Spotted them at Reading.  



It is also interesting to watch the pedestrians as they pass by. You can see their body automatically sway to the music as they pass the speaker (at least those who are musically inclined) (watch these two girls at 2.50) 


At a mall I saw this Yamaha keyboard display cum sale section. The salesgirl was a pro and belted out some good numbers, a part of which I managed to capture. 


Unfortunately there was little audience for this man on his accordion, probably he has selected a quiet street behind a store. 


This guy was outside the King’s Cross railway station and the music he played went well with the rush hour traffic around the railway station. 



  
I have captured most of these and strung it up into a small video.
Saw these guys playing at Chester cross (the junction of Bridge Street and Watergate Street) You can see the street names written on top. All street names are elevated and displayed at an height of about 20 feet. It was only later I realized that this cross road had some historical significance. 


Jason Allan was performing not far from Chester Cross.


Princess street at Edinburgh is a hub of activity when it comes to busking. It was nice and sunny with many tourists sprawled out on the lawn. 


You could hear music from different quarters (without disturbing each other) 



 Apart from music there were other artists trying to make some money using their skill 



On Princess street I found the statue of John Wilson totally covered by a tree. In 1854 when John died he never thought that he would be standing tall totally covered by foliage. 


When you walk around you come across some shops with unusual names.  Saw this one in York 



These two are from Bath. I noticed that people do contribute generously. 



The levitating street performers comes up with newer and newer ideas to catch your attention (and a few coins if possible) 



These two girls produced some excellent music. I purposely clicked with the elderly couple in the foreground. Wonder how Princess Street was when they were young. 




29 comments:

Unknown said...

Brilliant Joe.

joeh said...

THe only thing I miss about working in NYC was lunches and listening/watching the amazing street talent in the summer.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
A wonderful musical tour! YAM xx

messymimi said...

Watching performers, watching people, watching the people watching the performers -- there's nothing quite like it. Thanks for sharing this!

Bijoux said...

NYC and Vegas have the most street shows I've seen, but there's usually a band playing outside our MLB stadium, trying to sell their music.

Anonymous said...

Very nice Joe, I liked it - Upendra Kulkarni

Kay said...

I loved the video. Thank you so much for sharing it. Wow! That's a lot of talent out on the streets. You make me want to go back to England.

Nancy Chan said...

We hardly get to see street performers here. They are so talented! Have a good day!

DeniseinVA said...

Great photos and video of these interesting performers.

Daniela said...

Thanks most sincerely for the lovely comment you left on ~ My little old world ~ , you truly filled my heart with joy !
I so love your blog, that's why I'm going and follow you with so much gladness.

Wishing you a beautiful remainder of your week

XOXO Daniela

Sujatha Sathya said...

Very interesting article....a collection of Street shows :)

Granny Annie said...

Great photos of entertainers. Thanks for sharing and thanks for commenting on my blog:-)

Shoyeb Ahmed said...

Dear Joe, glad to see the video of Street performers in U K. How well they are organised. Even the beggars.
Wonderful to see all that. Thanks for sharing. Also I was expecting a short story on our beloved Clifford Samuel from you.

Peter Kouwenhoven said...

An excellent post!

Arkansas Patti said...

Wow, how lucky to be able to see so many street performers. Don't think I have ever seen one and know it is my loss. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

Anonymous said...

Very nice video, thank you Joe, I really enjoyed watching that - Mangor DUO

Ruth said...

It is always fun to watch the buskers and you see them all over the world. Many are very talented indeed!

www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

Christine said...

Thanks for sharing this fun time!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic performance by all. The world is indeed a better place, with all these talent at our disposal. God's gift to humanity -John Marcedo

Anvilcloud said...

Good theme for a post. Living in a town, we don't see many street performers. And a long winter is encroaching anyway. :)

CAntony said...

Joe Chetta,
I enjoyed the blog post. That video compilation... it was lovely break from my day. I can't stop smiling after watching it! You captured each so candidly and beautifully! I can't decide which was my favorite!! Perhaps it was the Mangor Duo, though I may be biased towards that with the cameo of your wonderfully animated wife joyfully laughing and dancing with the little girls! =D

I admit... I was hoping to see clips of the levitating artists - I don't recall ever seeing that and I'm curious how they do it!

As always, superb write-up and video!

Anonymous said...

Joe Zach, oh wow you really seem to get around! You must have seen some amazing performers out on the street - 52 Blue (via YouTube)

Pixel Peeper said...

I love seeing street scenes with regular, ordinary people in them. The video was great - the little girls dancing to the Greek song (what the heck is the name of it...can't think of it right now) was a fun sight!

Haddock said...

@ Pixel Peeper - that was the Zorba's dance.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

What a lot of fun Joe! I really love to watch street performers and buskers ... i have been known to lose the rest of the people I'm walking with because they don't realize they left me mesmerized in the crowd as they moved on ;>)

ashok said...

The street artists are really brilliant...i was really impressed too

https://ashokism.blogspot.in/2013/10/street-entertainers-of-britain.html

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I think that street musicians add an interesting dimension to a city. I just returned from Venice where a couple of elderly fellows were giving excellent renditions of Django Reinhart. If I stop and listen I always throw in a little money.

Lowcarb team member said...

So good to see, I enjoyed your post.

All the best Jan

Misha Gerrick said...

Aaaaah I love buskers and street artists. They just make going out in a city or town so special.