All busks
Ichi
I don’t think we’ve ever counted how many bands we’ve had come along to do a busk, but hands down Ichi was the most wonderfully bemusing. A complete joy to behold, watch Ichi performing three of his completely original jams below.
Luke Sital-Singh
Remember sunny days gone by… Luke Sital-Singh performed a few tracks under Northampton Square bandstand this past September, watch ‘Honest Man’, ‘Bottled Up Tight’ and ‘Fail For You’ below. For more from Luke, visit his dotcom.
Woodpecker Wooliams
Welcome to the birdhouse, with Woodpecker Wooliams! We were delighted to have the Brightonian perform with an impressive array of pedals and machines in Northampton Square bandstand, three cuts from the busk below – ‘Sparrow’, ‘Crow’ and ‘Dove’. Woodpecker Wooliams website.
The Mariner’s Children
The Mariner’s Children performed ‘Sycamore’, ‘Blood’ and ’Wolves Within The Woods for a crowd at Northampton Square Bandstand in Islington on a fading summer’s afternoon. Beautiful. The Mariner’s Children on Facebook. @bandstandbusks
Sea of Bees
Sea of Bees joined us to perform a few of the songs from the new album – Orangefarben. A delight to match the sunny busk last summer.
Here We Go Magic
What’s better than a busk with Here We Go Magic? That’s right, a busk with Here We Go Magic and a husky dog. Have you ever met anyone who does not like a husky dog? Don’t trust ‘em! Watch below for some HWGM action: Alone But Moving How Do I Know Make up [...]
of Montreal
We were utterly delighted to have of Montreal back for a low key last minute busk in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Despite only announcing mere hours before the main event, an eager crowd gathered nonetheless and listened to Kevin Barnes & co perform his ever weird pop songs. Brilliant. Watch the busk below:
Simone Felice
Simone Felice and his lovely cohorts treated us to some tunes on a showery April afternoon. The rain managed to hold out until we finished. Thanks, rain. Watch Simone’s magic below:
Veronica Falls
Hark back to sunnier times, with Veronica Falls performing at Northampton Square bandstand this summer. They released their debut LP on Bella Union this year and here they are with a coupla songs from it….
Forest Fire
New Yorkers Forest Fire swung by Arnold Circus bandstand in early December to play us a few jams from their latest record. Have a watch and listen below:
The Lampshades
We were absolutely delighted to have our old favourites The Lampshades (formerly Lulu And The … ) return to do another busk for us. It was pretty chilly under Arnold Circus, but the drizzle held off until just after we finished. It was a great treat – see for yourselves:
The Deer Tracks
Power! With some fluke luck we finally figured out how to turn the power on at Northampton Square bandstand, and lucky for us it meant we could watch The Deer Tracks perform us some dreamy songs. Wonderful.
Big Deal
On Halloween weekend Big Deal treated us to an autumnal set in Northampton Square bandstand. You can see the dark was looming even in the early afternoon, as the year winds to a close… watch a few videos from the busk below:
Peggy Sue
We really love Peggy Sue. If they were a type of food, they’d be a juicy hamburger on a podium surrounded by classy felines. Or something. Here are a few videos from the summer:
Sea of Bees
Jules and Amber, aka Sea Of Bees, treated us to their last UK performance in a incredibly triumphant year of touring in support of debut record ‘Song For The Ravens’, released this year in the UK by Heavenly Records. The duo had the 300 strong audience listening attentively, and they undoubtedly walked away with some [...]
Jesca Hoop
The wonderful Jesca Hoop performed a couple of songs for us under Arnold Circus bandstand this summer… have a peek below.
Copy Haho
On what had to be one of the few days you could truly classify as nice ‘summer’ weather, Copy Haho’s Joe Hearty performed some songs for us under Arnold Circus Bandstand. We filmed a couple:
Woodpigeon
Lovely Canadian Mr Mark Hamilton so kindly agreed to play our stage at Ray Davies’ Meltdown Festival 2011, in the main hall of the Southbank Center. The audience listened with a hush reverence and you can too… here are two videos from his set:
The Leisure Society
What a delight to have The Leisure Society perform a few songs for a crowded audience at Arnold Circus bandstand this summer. They have a new record released this year, and have been receiving glowing critical reviews as well as plenty of fan love, see why for yourselves:
She Keeps Bees
Anyone who has ever seen She Keeps Bees will know it’s impossible to not love what they do. Charming, sweet, funny and brilliant performers, it was an absolute delight to have them play our stage at Meltdown Festival 2011. Here are a few videos from their set:
Guillemots
Guillemots performed a few songs this summer at Meltdown Festival 2011. Their set included new songs as well as golden oldies such as Made Up Love Song. Have a watch below.
Peggy Sue
Our friends Peggy Sue treated us to another Bandstand Busk, this time at Meltdown Festival. Lucky us. We love Peggys! They have a new record out September 12th and it is super duper.
Thousands
You’d never know it was summer! A few weeks a go on a day off from their Tune Yards support tour, Thousands treated us to a performance of a few songs under Lincoln’s Inn Fields bandstand in rainy central London. The Sound Of Everything is out now on Bella Union.
Ra Ra Riot
These troopers were jet lagged and tired, but even so, Ra Ra Riot gave us a few brilliant songs on an arty bandstand at 5pm on a weekday. Watch them perform Boy and St Peter’s Day Festival for us round the back of the Southbank Center.
Dark Dark Dark
- Dark Dark Dark at Hampstead Heath Bandstand – Dark Dark Dark treated us to our first busk of 2011 on a blustery Sunday afternoon on Hampstead Heath. Above is a unique (sans-keyboard) performance of ‘Daydreaming’, from the band’s wonderful album ‘Wild Go’. Playing as a four piece; Marshall, Nona, Brett and Walt treated us [...]
The Irrepressibles
Watch Anvil, Nuclear Skies and Forget The Past by The Irrepressibles on Victoria Park bandstand.
Chief
Watch Day and Night, Nice People, Breaking Walls and You Tell Me by Chief on Northampton Square bandstand.
Caitlin Rose
Watch Gorilla Man, Sinful Wishing Well, New York, Spare Me and Learning To Ride by Caitlin Rose on Northampton Square bandstand.
Frightened Rabbit
Watch Poke, The Twist, Footshooter, Swim Until You Can’t See Land and Modern Leper by Frightened Rabbit at Arnold Circus bandstand.
Vivian Girls
Watch When I’m Gone, The Other Girls and Tell The World by Vivian Girls at Arnold Circus bandstand.
The Hundred In The Hands
The Hundred In The Hands performed at Arnold Circus. Watch Sleepwalker, Tom Tom and Pigeons.
Sky Larkin
Sky Larkin at Arnold Circus was a another great busk with a good crowd. Watch Matador, Landlocked, Still Windmills and Fossil,I.
Johnny Flynn
Watch Brown Trout Blues and Churlish May by Johnny Flynn at the Royal Festival Hall as part of Meltdown Festival.
Broadcast 2000
Watch Get Up And Go, Over Soon and Run by Broadcast 2000 at the Royal Festival Hall as part of Meltdown Festival.
Slow Club
Watch Hackney Marsh, Because We’re Dead and I Was Unconscious, It Was A Dream by Slow Club at the Royal Festival Hall as part of Meltdown Festival.
John Smith
Watch Hands and Invisible Boy by John Smith at The Royal Festival Hall as part of Meltdown Festival.
Kate Tempest
Watch Kate Tempest at the Royal Festival Hall as part of Meltdown Festival.
Oh Ruin
Watch Now Is The Needed Time, Estella, Big Lake and Rings End by Oh Ruin at the Royal Festival Hall as part of Meltdown Festival.
Sam Amidon
Watch Wild Bill Jones, Sign Of The Judgement, Saro and Way Go Lily by Sam Amidon in the Royal Festival Hall as part of Meltdown Festival.
The Tailors
Watch Giddy And Maudlin, Landfill and Crocodiles by The Tailors on Northampton Square bandstand.
Forest City Lovers
Watch Sea To Land by Forest City Lovers, If I Were A Tree and Tell Me, Cancer on Northampton Square bandstand.
Al Lewis and Sarah Howells
Watch Treading Water, Make A Little Room and Arsonist by Al Lewis and Sarah Howells on Northampton Square bandstand.
Ed Harcourt
Watch So I’ve Been Told, Do As I Say, Not As I Do, I’ve Become Misguided, Church Of No Religion and Killed By The Morning Sun by Ed Harcourt on Northampton Square bandstand.
Tristram
Watch Me And James Dean, Zombie Holocaust, Ballad Of A Stolen Bicycle and Someone Told Me A Poem by Tristram on Victoria Park bandstand.
The Clientele
Watch Since K Got Over Me, I Wonder Who We Are, Somebody Changed and Bonfires On The Heath by The Clientele on Victoria Park bandstand.
Fyfe Dangerfield
Watch Any Direction, She Needs Me, Livewire and Faster Than The Setting Sun by Fyfe Dangerfield on Victoria Park bandstand.
Twilight Sad
Watch And She Would Darken The Memory, Made To Disappear, The Room and Cold Days From The Birdhouse by Twilight Sad on Northampton Square bandstand.
Sleeping States
Watch Showers In Summer, Learning Curves, Planning My Escape and The Next Village by Sleeping States on Northampton Square bandstand.
Player Piano
Watch Golden One, My Name Will Be A Myth, Anything At All and Backwards Invention by Player Piano on Northampton Square bandstand.
Lofty Heights
Watch Fools Gold, Skeleton Apples, John Locke and Eye Contact by Lofty Heights on Northampton Square bandstand.
Tap Tap
Watch Half Moon Street, Codeine and Off The Beaten Track by Tap Tap on Northampton Square bandstand.
Sons Of Noel And Adrian
Watch Damien, The Wreck Is Not A Boat, Indigo and Inside Olympia by Sons Of Noel And Adrian on Northampton Square bandstand.
Peggy Sue
Watch Yo Mama, Milk And Blood, Once We Were Strangers and The Sea, The Sea by Peggy Sue on Northampton Square bandstand.
Treetop Flyers
Watch New York Rain, It’s About Time You Leave, Is It All Worth It and Rose Is In The Yard by Treetop Flyers on Arnold Circus bandstand.
Micachu And The Shapes
Watch Guts, Curly Teeth, Turn Me Well and Lips by Micachu And The Shapes on Arnold Circus bandstand.
David Thomas Broughton
Watch Why Are You Not Here?, Staying True, The Weight Of My Love and Perfect Louse by David Thomas Broughton on Arnold Circus bandstand.
First Aid Kit
First Aid Kit brought their sisterly tones to Arnold Circus to beautiful effect.
Lulu And The Lampshades
Watch Cups, Something New, Feet To The Sky and National Express by Lulu And The Lampshades on Northampton Square bandstand.
The Mules
Watch All Of The Fun, None Of The Fair, When The Journey’s Better Than The Destination, Bitch and Free Afternoon by The Mules on Northampton Square bandstand.
Hockey
Watch Too Fake, Work and 4 Holy Photos by Hockey on Northampton Square bandstand.
Internet Forever
Watch Break Bones, Centre Of Your Universe, Happy New Year and Cover the Walls by Internet Forever on Northampton Square bandstand.
Gorgeous Colours
Wach Arms On Knees, The Rails, Locksmith and Miss You by Gorgeous Colours on Northampton Square bandstand.
King Creosote
Watch Jump At The Cats, Coast On By, Rims and Camels Swapped For Wives and by King Creosote on Hyde Park bandstand.
Woodpigeon
Watch Oberkampf, Lay All Your Love On Me and As The Ship Went Down You’ve Never Looked Finer by Woodpigeon on Hampstead Heath bandstand.
Kill It Kid
Watch Private Idaho, Day Before I Die, Bye Bye Bird and My Lips Won’t Be Kept Clean by Kill It Kid on Northampton Square Bandstand.
Fanfarlo
Fanfarlo graced Northampton Square bandstand in one of our only mic’d busks.
Theoretical Girl
Watch I Should Have Loved You More, The Boy I Left Behind, Divided and The Biggest Mistake by Theoretical Girl on Northampton Square bandstand.
The Brakes
Watch All Night Disco Party, Consumer Producer, On Your Side, Why Tell The Truth When It’s Easier To Lie by The Brakes on Arnold Circus bandstand.
Slow Club
Watch When I Go, Because We’re Dead, It Doesn’t Have To Be Beautiful and Christmas TV by Slow Club on Northampton Square bandstand.
Wildbirds And Peacedrums
Incredible performances of My Heart, There Is No Light and Places by Wildbirds and Peacedrums on Arnold Circus bandstand.
Hauschka
We haven’t had a mini piano on a bandstand before, but Hauschka performed Freibad, Untitled and Eltern on Arnold Circus bandstand.
The Hours
Watch Big Black Hole, Ali In The Jungle and Come On by The Hours on Arnold Circus bandstand.
Alessi’s Ark
Alessi played The Dog, The Horse and Over The Hill for Bandstand Busking on Arnold Circus bandstand.
Black Lips
Watch Bow Down And Die, I’ll Be With You and Bad Kids by Black Lips on Arnold Circus bandstand.
Speech Debelle
In a more unusual busk, Mercury Prize winner Speech Debelle performed The Key, Searching and Go Then Bye on Northampton Square bandstand.
Gregory And The Hawk
Watch Oats We Sow, August Moon and Wild West by Gregory And The Hawk on Northampton Square bandstand.
Esser
An unusually acoustic Esser performed Satisfied and We Can Work It Out on Northampton Square bandstand.
Emmy The Great
Northampton Square saw We Almost Had A Baby, War and First Love by Emmy The Great.
The Leisure Society
Watch The Last Of The Melting Snow, Save It For Someone Who Cares and Short Weekend by The Leisure Society.
Ten Kens
Watch Downcome Home, Y’all Come Back Now, I Really Hope You Get To Retire by Ten Kens.
Loney Dear
Arnold Circus saw Harsh Words, I Was Only Going Out and Violent by Loney Dear.
Psapp
Arnold Circus saw Mr Ant, The Monster Song and I Want That by Psapp.
Asobi Seksu
Northampton Square saw Walk On The Moon, Merry Christmas I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight and Gliss by Asobi Seksu.
Paul Marshall
Watch Cross Stitched Lips, Buried Beneath The Tiles, We Could Use Your Blood by Paul Marshall in Greenwich Park.
Chris Bathgate
Watch Serpentine, Do What’s Easy and Wild Mountain Thyme by Chris Bathgate at Hyde Park bandstand.
Nat Johnson
Watch Mexico, Dirty Rotten Soul and Heart of Clay by Nat Johnson at Northampton Square
The Barker Band
Watch Heaven’s Bell, Heart Like Mine, Laurie’s Gypsy Weave by The Barker Band at Northampton Square.
Of Montreal
With pressure from the park wardens Of Montreal brought sat in deck chairs and performed ID Engager, Heidalmsgate Like A Promethean Curse, An Eluardian Instance.
We Were Promised Jetpacks
The closed Brighton bandstand meant we ended up busking amongst the pleasure beach rides.
The Acorn in Brighton
Brighton bandstand was closed when we arrived so we took to the windy beach instead – it made for some memorable busks.
The Wave Pictures
Watch David’s Evening On Wheels, Blue Harbour and Blind Drunk by The Wave Pictures at Arnold Circus.
Frightened Rabbit
Watch Poke, I Feel Better and Backwards Walk performed by Frightened Rabbit on Hampstead Heath.
David Karsten Daniels
Watch Universe Of No Parts, Martha Ann, Come Up by David Karsten Daniels at Lincoln’s Inn Field.
Laura Groves
Watch Coast, I Am Leaving and Bridges by Laura Groves at Victoria Park.
Wild Beasts
Mercury nominated Wild Beasts gave us an acoustic blast of The Old Dog, Cheerio Chaps, Cheerio Goodbye and Brave Bulging Boutant Clairvoyants at Northampton Square.
Wet Paint
Wet Paint performed Save The Whale, Melon’s Teeth and Hug It Out at Arnold Circus.
Stars of Sunday League
Our first ever busk saw Stars of Sunday League perform some of his soft scottish gems.
