Musicians stage ‘street jam’ to protest against Camden busking laws
The street jam session in Camden Town. Picture: Nigel Sutton. - Credit: Nigel Sutton
Buskers staged a “street jam” in the heart of Camden to protest against controversial new rules to license busking in the borough.
Meet & Jam, a national network to enable musicians to meet up and jam, organised performances outside HSBC bank at the Brittania Junction, in Camden Town, on Sunday.
The performances were held to protest against new rules set to be introduced by Camden Council meaning anyone caught busking without a licence could be fined up to £1,000 and have their instruments confiscated. The use of amplifiers and wind instruments will be banned.
It follows an increase in complaints from residents about noise generated by street entertainers.
Busker and stand-up comedian Ben Van der Velde, a candidate for Camden Green Party in May’s local election, attended Sunday’s protest to lead an “illegal choir”.
You may also want to watch:
He said: “It is a sad day when local government manages to legislate against the right to play music in public freely.”
Most Read
- 1 £5,000 of crack cocaine and heroin found in Hampstead home
- 2 Haringey Council launches investigation into land deal with rapper
- 3 5 great places in north London to get away from the summer crowds
- 4 'Cash cows': Leaseholders fight for clarity and better value over 'huge bills'
- 5 Highgate School staff must undergo 'anti-sexism training' over summer
- 6 Crouch End Festival Chorus: Alexandra Palace Theatre
- 7 Protests over Highgate housing plan but council moves to reassure locals
- 8 'Like the Fleet's resurfaced': Flash flooding hits Hampstead and Highgate
- 9 Hundreds raised for St John’s Wood shop wrecked by flooding
- 10 Vehicles scraped and traffic chaos after width-restriction bollards moved
