Could You Be a Busker on London Underground?

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Young musicians can apply to audition for slots in 35 official pitches

Young musicians keen to become buskers on London's transport network are invited to apply to take part in a public X Factor style competition.

The musicians will face a panel of music industry experts in public locations around the Capital, and will be judged on their originality, technique and performance.

Auditions are scheduled to take place between July 18 and August 8 as part of the Mayor of London's Busk in London initiative, which was set up to support and promote busking in the Capital, with locations set to be announced over the summer.

The winning buskers will be selected to showcase a wide range of music genres, representing London's incredible diversity. Applicants have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of buskers who have gone on to achieve international fame and even to headline Glastonbury. Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Bob Geldof and Katherine Jenkins are among a legion of successful musicians to test the waters in front of Tube customer audiences.

Busking has brightened up passenger journeys since the London Underground Busking Scheme launched 13 years ago. There are 35 official busking pitches across the Underground network, with over 1,800 bookable performance slots every week.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson says: "Like the Underground, music and busking are a crucial part of the fabric of our great city, which is why we set up Busk in London. Working with TfL and other partners our goal is to make London the busking capital of the world and the TfL Busk in London auditions are a fantastic opportunity to win a regular slot playing to Londoners, commuters and tourists."

Keen musicians with an eye on a Tube busking spot will need to be a solo or duo act, aged 16 years or over and be resident in the UK to apply. Pop, classical, folk, world music and other quality performers are all welcome to apply to audition before applications close at midnight on Sunday 31 May.

The TfL Busk in London auditions are part of the Busk in London programme set up to make it easier for street musicians in the Capital, and complement the Mayor of London's Gigs busking competition, which is also underway. Gigs is aimed at young London musicians aged 11-25, with great prizes for grabs, including a year's licence to busk on the Underground. The closing date for entries for Gigs is also midnight, 31 May 2015.

For further information on how to apply for the TfL Busk in London auditions, Gigs and other information about busking in the capital visit the Busk in London website at Busk in London.

 

 

May 15, 2015