Shrewsbury's night-time Big Busk to be in heart of Frankwell
The Big Busk’s night-time programme will have a new feel for 2019 – as the festival takes over the Frankwell area of Shrewsbury.
The popular street music festival, which is returning on April 6 after a year off, will be holding events in five venues across Frankwell with music beginning at 7pm.
Before that, more than 60 acts will be performing in the streets and shopping centres of Shrewsbury town centre from 10am to raise money for, and awareness of, Shrewsbury Ark, a centre for homeless and vulnerable people in the town.
The Frankwell evening takeover will see musicians hosting events at:
The Wheatsheaf - hosted by The Monkey Sellers
The Boathouse – hosted by Gareth Rhys Jones
The Pourhouse – hosted by Top Bananas
Ye Olde Buck’s Head Inn – hosted by Geoff Rogers
In Good Hands Café – hosted by Smelly Cat Club
The evening entertainment is being co-ordinated by Big Busk organising team members Olly and Rebecca James.
Olly said: “We are incredibly grateful to the venues for hosting shows for us to help raise money for the Ark. Their enthusiasm to be part of the Busk has been infectious.”
Rebecca added: “We have to say a huge thank you to the artists who are hosting the gigs. They are all playing in the day and then going on to host these events at night – giving their time entirely free. We can’t thank them enough.”
Rosie Piesse from Rosie’s Emporium, and chair of the Hello Frankwell collective of businesses in the Frankwell area, said: “Frankwell is a vibrant area with great music venues and a strong community identity.
“Our businesses look forward to working together with The Big Busk to make this night a real success for everyone and raise both funds and awareness for an important cause.
“The Big Busk is an inspirational fundraising event and it is an honour that they have chosen our neighbourhood as a showcase for the musicians who will be performing.”
The Busk was first held in 2013 in memory of talented musician, poet and artist Ben Bebbington, who died after an unprovoked attack by two men in September 2012.
The 2017 Big Busk raised more than £8,500, but organisers took a break last year to manage some of the challenges which arise from the event getting bigger each year.
The small core organising team also had many personal milestones, including a wedding, new babies, house moves and new jobs.
