London launches underground search for buskers

LONDON - The London Underground network is holding its first auditions since the pandemic for buskers to keep the city's 3.5 million daily travellers entertained and uplifted.

Actor and singer Peter Willoughby was one of the first to step forward.

As he belted out Alanis Morissette's "Ironic", accompanying himself on the guitar, the judges scribbled notes on their clipboards.

Passers-by rushed past. No time to stop, but the appreciative looks they threw in his direction were unmistakable.

"I saw the auditions and thought that seems like an opportunity to get back to doing something I loved," he told AFP.

Around 280 musicians from 450 who applied have been shortlisted for the 10 days of auditions which have just begun.

The shortlisted performers will be put through their paces at several stations including Blackfriars and Canary Wharf by three-strong judging panels made up of professional musicians alongside station staff.

They will be assessed on a combination of musical ability and stage presence, according to Transport for London (TfL) which runs the underground network, with no upper limit except on the number buskers who can be accepted to play.

The licensed busking scheme has been running for over 20 years with auditions held every few years for the around 40 pitches.

The salary is uncertain. Bruell said he does not always get his train fare from Essex. But the important thing is to get your music heard.

Most are located on the Underground but there are also a few on the Overground train network which serves this city of nearly nine million people.