AN event billed as ‘International Busking Day” will see music fill the streets of Coventry city centre this weekend – and mark a relaxation of the council’s busking policy.
And organisers say Saturday’s showcase will be “the sound of things to come for the UK City of Culture 2021”.
Locations across the city centre will host live street music in various styles from 15 different artists, including rap, folk, R&B, metal, soul and blues.
It runs from midday until 6pm in Friargate, Hertford Street, The Precinct fountain and Broadgate, each session lasting an hour.
Among those performing in Broadgate will be Stickboy, billed as “a four-armed robotic drummer from Berlin” created by Coventry musician Frank Barnes, who will be playing throughout the afternoon.
Organisers added in a press release: “As well as marking the end of the city’s first Music Month, it also marks a change in the Coventry City Council’s policy on busking in Coventry city centre which will make it much more welcoming to live musicians wanting to perform.”
Jon Davis, a senior producer at Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “International Busking Day is a great way to conclude Music Month, which has seen a whole host of events across Coventry over the past few weeks.
“From bands in the park, melas and reggae nights, young people’s concerts at Warwick Arts Centre and Take The Square last weekend, through Godiva Festival and The Specials in the ruins of the old cathedral, Music Month has shown what a diverse mix of talent and musical tastes we have in the city.
“Our year as UK City of Culture will be a great platform for local talent and this is another way in which we can support local musicians to grow, developing their skills and building audiences as we head towards 2021.
“International Busking Day has been supported by Coventry Business Improvement District and The Trust is delighted to have worked closely with Coventry City Council to support their work to evolve the policy that makes busking in the city much more welcoming. This will make it much easier to develop our own talent pool of musicians, as well as attract musicians to Coventry as we approach 2021.”
