We take a closer look at some of this year’s performers. With over 120 performers across 10 stages, this year’s edition of the festival is going to bigger and better than ever. International Busking Day is held in Wembley Park, London, and it’s a vibrant, family day of fun that’s totally free of charge to attend. What’s not to love?! It’s all happening this 16th July 2022!
Seth Lakeman (Headline act)
Westcountry folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Seth Lakeman released stunning new studio album Make Your Mark in November 2021. Written during his enforced 18 months off the road, the album features 14 powerful, brand-new songs including the first single Higher We Aspire which was playlisted at BBC Radio 2.
Seth says: “I’ve always been drawn to storytelling with in songs. And always loved the way you can celebrate people and places in songs. I think it’s really important to keep a journey flowing within a song.”
Scarlette Fever
Scarlette Fever’s extensive career has seen acclaimed support within the UK media, from tabloid pop pages and teen press, to securing the stamp of approval from Popjustice and prestigious appearances on the BBC Radio 2 playlist and much more. As well as obtaining two Top 5 singles in the Billboard Dance Charts with her debut single ‘Crash and Burn’ & remix track ‘P.S. I Hate You’ in collaboration with Jason Nevins (Run–D.M.C., N.E.R.D.), Scarlette has stepped onto the stages of ample renowned venues across the world including Royal Albert Hall, Hammersmith Apollo, Birmingham Arena, Beautiful Days and Isle of Wight Festivals, Blue Bird Café in Nashville and West Hollywood’s Viper Room.
Scarlette says: “When you’re busking you only have a couple of seconds to get someone’s attention, if they like what they hear they’ll stop to listen… If they don’t, they’ll carry on walking.”
Gasper Nali
Gasper Nali is a roots one-man-band from the small town of Nkhata Bay on the shores of Lake Malawi. He plays a one-string home-made 3-metre long Babatoni bass guitar with a stick and an empty beer bottle, and together with a cow skin kick drum and catchy melodies, he creates the most amazing and danceable original Afro Beats possible!
Gasper says: “This guitar I make myself. The name is babaton. I also bring that mgolo (large bass drum). I cut two pieces out of an old oil barrel, one for the mgolo and the other for the guitar, and then I add the bluegum (eucalyptus fretboard) and wrap them with cow skins. And I make a kick pedal to beat the drum. You cannot buy a babatoni, that’s why I make it all myself.”
The Dunwells
The Dunwells are a successful Leeds based Indie-folk / Americana band with strong vocals, powerful melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Their debut album “Blind Sighted Faith” was released in 2012 following which they have released a further 6 albums/EP’s.
Stringfever
Stringfever is a entertaining group of talented musicians that have lived and breathed music since a young age. Composed of three brothers and a cousin, this internationally acclaimed quartet has performed 1000+ Shows in thirty-three countries since 2004, from private performances for the British Royal family to a packed audience at Madison Square Gardens.
The Shires
Fate is a curious thing. One small twist here, a turn there… Before they became The Shires, singer-songwriters Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes had met a series of dead-ends. Now they’re the UK’s most successful country music export, with four top 10 albums and hundreds of thousands of tickets sold around the world.
International Busking Day is happening this 16th July 2022 in Wembley Park, London: https://wembleypark.com/international-busking-day-wembley-park/