A quick look at some of the towns I've busked in.(note - I'm still working on this page)
I have played in all these towns , and more. The pictures are linked to Interactive Maps, Webcam Views or City Guides.
I'll try to include as much information as I can next to each picture. Plus anything interesting from the corkboard. Here's a good website for looking for hostel accomodation, you can also earn some money writing reviews for them hostels.com .
CARCASSONNE. Where it all began for me!
To post some infomation on Carcassonne go to the Corkboard .
BARCELONA. Where they like to dress up! City MapHostels Play on the Ramblas, the little streets off it, the Metro and the terraces. Some good hostels in Placa Real (off the Ramblas) and lots of good bars and restaurants in the same area Bario Gothica (excuse my spelling, I hope someone will correct me). To see more info or post your own comments on Barcelona go to Corkboard .
GENEVA. I've spent the best years of my life here.
For more info on Geneva or to add your own comments go to the corkboard .
BASEL, Switzerland. Some of the worst years. City Tour Play - Lots of nice trams to play. The street is good. You can play in the Hauptbahnhof. Terraces in Summer, Bars, Restaurants in Winter. Stay - YHAYouth Hostel (no curfew). Campsite (2 hrs walk if you miss the last Tram). The Law - The Authorities, like the people of Basel, are easygoing, open minded and generally tollerant of Buskers - don't abuse this, don't overstep the mark! Eat - The supermarkets all have restaurants. You can eat cheaply in the YHA. Also theres a place in Klein Basel that serves very cheap food at 7pm - I don't know where it is as I never went cos I was too busy busking at that time. Hangout - Klein Basel - lots of late night bars etc, some cheap, some friendly, some expensive - most sleazy! Happy hunting. To see more info on Basel or post your own comments go to Corkboard .
COTE D'AZUR, France. A must for every fledgling busker, before it's too late.
To post some information or find out what other buskers think about the Cote D' Azur, go to the Corkboard .
PORTO, Potrtugal.
Fantastic busking town. Nice people. Easy to find a cheap room. Several good pedestrian streets to play (inc Rua St. Caterina). Terraces in the Summer, the best are just across the river in Villa Nova Do Gai (I've spelt that wrong of course!) Or take the tram to the seaside, Foz, which is full of terraces below the sea wall, where you won't see them from the road (If you ask nicely they'll turn off the recorded music - the beach is fantastic too! Or take a short train ride to Espinho and play the street or the promenade till late at night. Other good nearby towns include Braga and Braganca.A real Must is Pria do Mira - I spent months there , nice campsite, good beach. Play in the evenings on the grass near the main street. Or by the sea in the afternoon. If anyone has more up-to-date info please post it on the Corkboard .
THE UNDERGROUND, London. You can't get much lower than this!
For new buskers arriving in London, busking is now almost impossible. Some "new" arrivals have had to wait up to a year for an "audition", only to be told they were not "good enough" and to "go away and practice and try again in six months". This is unnacceptable! I'm afraid those of you who're thinking of coming to London to busk on the Underground for a few weeks or months - will just have to do it the old "outlaw way" - just get stuck in and don't take shit from anyone! The worst that can happen (as long as you're polite and don't swear at the authorities), is that you'll have your name taken and, eventually have to pay a fine. Don't even contemplate using violence - you'll recieve an ASBO (anti social behaviour order), and be barred from the network! The Licenced Busking Scheme has been running for over two years now, they've refused a licence for a good friend of mine (a Sax player for over 20years), saying he wasn't a good enough musician -YET, I've PERSONALLY counted THIRTEEN karaoke performers who've been issued licences! Where's the musicianship in turning on a CD? Don't expect to make a fortune. There are still some unofficial pitches left (I won't tell you here to protect the livelyhood of those buskers who can't/won't get permits, sorry - you'll just have to find them yourselves, but here's a clue to some,"The King is Very Cross, so Has Gone to the Garden, and is Pointing to The Center" ), good luck in London!
For some info on London, or to post your comments go to the Corkboard
ANTWERP, Belgium. Old Buskers don't fade away, they go to Antwerp!
I'm in Antwerp at the moment (25/5/04). Checking things out. It's pretty much Romanianed, but the cops and buskers and cafe owners are trying to sort things out. Although , personaly, I think it's too late!
A good place to hang out, listen to (folk) music and sleep (15 Euros a night) is:
I've checked it out personally, the boss (Raff) is a nice guy, you can play but not bottle - and they have folk gigs - and an incredible CD collection (folk).
BERLIN. No longer up against the wall!
Fantastic town.Last time I was here there was a wall round West Berlin. There are tons of bars and restaurants to play, both busking and gigs. Best to get off at a different U Bahn each night and search within a 10mn radius (keep a note of everywhere that lets you play). In the summer there are loads of terraces to play and the street is quite good too, although the Ku'dam can be very noisy. If anyone has some more up to date information,please post it on the Corkboard .
FRANKFURT. Yes this is where Frankfurters come from.
A wonderful town to busk in the Summer - street, terraces, U Bahn etc. In the winter you'd better line up some gigs! Try the Irish Pubs there're tons of them now, all over Germany. They all know each other as they're mostly related or have worked for each other. If you get on and are patient, they'll put you in touch with Irish Pubs all over Germany. Don't expect to have to play Irish Music all the time. "American Pie" "Mustang Sally"and pub Standards are the order of the day. Any other info please post on Corkboard .
