For the third year, Wembley Park will host International Busking Day, on Sunday 25 July. The free, family-friendly, day-long celebration of busking and street performance – supported by the Mayor of London – will feature performances by international and home-grown talent. The event is a highlight of Wembley Park’s Summer of Play programme of events, featuring a line-up of the best UK based buskers and exciting new local talent, plus a few surprises along the way.
Committed to nurturing creative talent and the performing arts industry, Wembley Park has launched the Wembley Park Live Academy, an educational scheme for emerging musicians, which involves teaching and mentorship for 10 North West London musicians, culminating in paid performances at Wembley Park’s International Busking Day.
Selected applicants of the Live Academy scheme had the opportunity to attend an ‘Academy Day’ at The Yellow, Wembley Park’s community centre, events space, and learning hub, where they were given performance training, personalised coaching, and taught key industry skills, all in the lead up to their debut performances at International Busking Day. The successful trainees will be represented by Busk in London and paid to perform at Wembley Park for the special day-long International Busking Day event, as well as other Wembley Park locations throughout the summer.
The Wembley Park Live Academy graduates come from a variety of musical backgrounds, including folk, pop and rock, perfectly complimenting Busk in London’s stellar line-up on musical talent. Many of the Academy graduates are North-West London locals, with two performers living right in the heart of Wembley Park itself.
As well as watching home-grown talent take centre stage at International Busking Day, guests can expect to see street dancers, walkabout artists such as the Human Hedges, roller skate dancers, and more. Busk in London’s seasoned artists will also play an integral part in the day’s proceedings, with performances taking place across Wembley Park and the iconic Arena Square.
Not only can visitors listen to great musical talent but take part, too; pre-bookable cajon workshops are on offer, where guests can master those basic beats in an easy to follow, all-ages-welcome session. Drumming not your thing? Visitors can grab a spray can and let their street art juices flow with artist Sophy Robson guiding guests every spray of the way.
International Busking Day will take place on Sunday 25th July, from 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Key Locations and Timings
Through Booby Moore Bridge
What: Wembley Park Live Graduates give visitors a warm welcome at the gateway to International Busking Day.
When: 1400 – 2000
Opposite Black Sheep Coffee
What: From homegrown musical talent to mesmerising Street Dancers, guests can catch both Busk in London artists and a street dance crew in this location throughout the day.
When: 1400 – 2000
Olympic Way South & North
What: Olympic Way will play host to several intriguing artist performances, including the Human Hedges and roller skate dancer, hula artists, jugglers, and more.
When: 1400 – 2000
Arena Square
What: Spectators in Arena Square can expect to see a variety of acts, including classical, funk/flamenco fusion, folk, Jazz, and Afrobeat artists.
Also in Arena Square, guests can enjoy pre-bookable participatory Cajon workshops; participants will have a 45-minute energising session to learn the basic drumming patterns associated with Cajon playing.
When: 1400 – 2000
London Designer Outlet – Town Square
What: The London Designer Outlet will be playing host to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra it’s Town Square, where the renowned musical body will perform an intimate set of classics.
When: 1400 – 2000
Spanish Steps
What: Guests will be treated to a pre-bookable, participatory workshop with street artist Sophy Robson. The public can get to grips with their creative talents, by crafting works using spray paint as the medium, with the artist. Sophy will use the themes of Wembley Park to help participants devise original artwork, ensuring creativity is in no short supply.
When: 1400 – 2000
Royal Route Bridge
The Yellow will host a stage in front of the Royal Route, curated by a volunteer team from The Yellow.
