I don't care how talented a busker is, I find them a nuisance. I don't distinguish between them and any other form of intrusive music in public places. If I want music, I'll choose it and when / where to listen to it. My guess is that I'll be in a minority on this one; in my experience, people seem to get a bit soppy about buskers.
I've thought this for years, but was reminded of it recently in Edinburgh when a very loud busker using an amplifier was in Rose Street more or less all day, right up until midnight, audible even on the rear top floor of the hotel I was in.
It depends on what's being played. In my local town there's a chap who plays classical guitar and he's very good but there is also another guitarist who uses a battery for his amp and speaker, and plays rock music very loud and very badly. However I still prefer him to the holy Joes who spout religion at me on a Saturday afternoon.
I like those people that pretend to be a statue. One scared the living daylights out of my daughter when she was 4 whilst the Edinburgh Fringe was on. I nearly died laughing!
Is there any parallel universe in which you can't enjoy this ... ??
You can't see it in this clip, but the sun shades are outside a pub called The Sussex. Buy a bottle of wine, order a salad, sit outside, and listen to the busker.
If I see someone like this, I'll happily stick a tenner in their tin, cos I love it.
I've been listening to the 'Cat Woman' of Northampton for about 30 years...........and she has *never* learnt to play a tune in all that time.
She just plinky-plunks over an electronic 'beat'......
She must have paid out far more in batteries for her infernal machine than has ever gone to the cats.
joggerjayne - I inhabit that parallel universe. As I said, I'm not contesting a busker's ability. However good they may be, I'll choose to listen to them when I want to. For me, music is a strange, abstract and wonderfully personal thing. I find it devalued when plonked in front of me, unbidden, on a pavement. I like the idea of nursing a long drink on a nice day in a good pub or bar, but am happy to leave the music out of the picture.
At one point, the person filming zooms in on the CDs she's selling ... Copenhagen to Brighton With Love, and Logjammin'. I've bought both of those from these guys, and they are absolutely fantastic.
Just for the authentic Brighton sound, note the seagull at 2:29 ...
