Camden buskers defy council ban

Camden buskers took to the streets on the first day of the council’s new licence scheme – under which unlicensed busking becomes a crime, punishable with an £1000 fine.

Specifically, percussion and wind instruments – all of them! – are banned, and will not be licensed except in exceptional circumstances.

In this video, a protesting unlicensed percussionist ad libs on libertarianism, including the lines ‘I walk within my own authority; nobody stands over me’; and (on bureaucrats’ ‘shite’): ‘when you stand up to it, it’s insubstantial’.

Interestingly, there wasn’t a council officer in sight; which was great, and suggests that the council may have won the legal case, but they have lost the more important battle of public opinion.

Buskers are now swapping tips on the best Camden spots on the campaign’s Facebook page.

Keep up the great work, Keep Streets Live…


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