The Stormcock Community

On Sunday last I went along to my first Bandstand Busking event, since I'd signed up to be kept informed a while ago.

The idea behind Bandstand Busking is to make use of some of the many victorian bandstands which exist all over London, and indeed most UK towns, often situated within pleasant green spaces, and in a sad state of neglect. The Bandstand Busking people bring along acoustic musicians, individuals and bands, with a predetermined short setlist which they then perform inside the bandstand as a free concert for whoever happens to turn up. A bit like a flashmob, but with warning. The songs are recorded and videod by a group of film makers having some time out from the music biz, and uploaded to youTube and the Bandstand busking website.

So the one I went to was in December which means that the audience consists of a small number of people who don't mind standing around in a windy, cold park on a Sunday afternoon. Victoria Park Hackney/Tower Hamletts East London is a place I know reasonably well from years ago when I used to work nearby and often went to the park and to the two pubs alongside. The Falcon and Firkin was once an onsite brewpub and that all ended years ago, but the now called Brittania has much the same atsmosphere and the was pork pie lunch was very good.

Oh yes, what about the music? Well if you listen to some of the bands on the website you'll find a very original gems amongst the general style which is a kind of new wave acoustic, often sensitive and quiet type of thing with plaintive cellos, fingerpicking spanish guitar and brooding melancholic singing. Some of it is really energetic and exciting though, it all depends who's on and I'm stil not quite sure what the underlying social connection between all these new young musicians might be. The videos are very high quality.

I took some pictures.