Busking in Brighton
As night creeps in and commuters shuffle wearily from Brighton station to their homes, something colourful is happening beneath the railway bridge. Three brightly dressed girls, one playing the flute, another ukulele and the third tambourine, are dancing and singing at the top of their voices. One is sporting a native American headdress, and all three are adorned in neon facepaint. More fun and vibrant than a Hare Krishna march, this is The Half Sisters: self-appointed “busking queens of Brighton”.
The Half Sisters, busking outside the pavillion (photo by Craig Payne)
Squishing folk and pop together into a cuddly, dancing monster of a band, they have drawn big crowds and a lot of attention playing around town. “Busking is where our heart’s at!” says percussionist Fifi. Along with her friends, real-life sisters Isadora and Freya-Rose, she has been putting her energy into The Half Sisters for over a year now, crafting tunes and heading out on busking adventures, some of which are captured on the Sisters’ popular youtube channel. They have played outside the Royal Pavilion, at the Unitarian Church and even inside the station at rush hour, much to the bemusement of passing businessmen.
The Half Sisters are just one example of the rich and diverse busking scene in Brighton. You wouldn’t expect anything less from a city that has grown up on musical entertainment. In the past, important musicians would come from around the world to play places like the Pavilion, the Assembly Rooms and the Grand Mansions, or simply the seafront bandstand; some would also hit the streets to entertain local crowds. Today, a whole range of characters bring the city to life with their music, such as ‘Gameboy kid’ who can be spotted on West Street most Saturdays, manipulating mario sounds and yelping along manically. Then there are newbies on the scene Flotsam Jetsam, featuring two Sams, one on guitar and the other on banjo. They play the sort of Americana-style bluegrass music that would not be out of place soundtracking a bar-room brawl. Thankfully so far no fights have ensued while they’ve been playing: “though we did see a policeman chasing someone while we played once.”
When it comes to making an income, buskers report mixed fortunes. The Half Sisters won’t reveal exactly how much they’ve made, but smile knowingly when you suggest they must do well from their outings. Sam and Sam made £11 in just half an hour the first time they played. Last year, 13-year-old guitar hero Calvin Prior made national news for making up to £70 an hour playing by the seafront. Not everyone is this lucky, as Paul, 27, from Brighton will testify: “I’ve been busking for 12 years with my violin, and only average £10 a day.”
Unlike a lot of cities in England, you do not have to have a license to busk in Brighton and Hove. The only rule is, if you are asked to move on, you must. But it’s rare that anyone would ask: the general feeling is that busking adds to town’s character. Even the council’s website says that busking “livens up the streets”. They do, however, give some words of caution: don’t use animals, perform drunk or sing anything offensive. Once you have those boxes ticked, you’re good to go.
Graham Pembrey