Newport unveils new ‘busk stops' in the city centre
Seven of these 'busk stops' have been installed around the city centre, with locations in Queensway (outside the railway station); High Street (near popular music venues the Corn Exchange and Le Pub); Market bus station, Upper Dock Street; near the junction of High Street and Bridge St; Austin Friars; Commercial St (near the Charles St junction) and Llanarth Street.
David and Jax are quickly finding a love for busking (Image: NQ) Having only been installed for a short while, the sites are working and already beginning to attract those who are new to the craft and reigniting the flame for others.
Buskers Jax Jones and David Chapman are new to the craft. Jax said: 'I've never busked before, and David hasn't busked since 2015.'
'Newport has a really interesting music scene, and this sort of thing will encourage people to go out and busk more. There's a lot of pubs closing down so this gives us more opportunities and a reason to come out.'
The sites not only allow buskers to show their talents, but it also widens the music tastes of those walking by. A quick performance of a track by American rock band Alice In Chains by David and Jax may not be the first choice for many shoppers today but the duo is helping broaden the horizons of the general public.
The act of busking itself is a centuries-old tradition that is performed around the world and Newport is no exception, with the music that flows through the streets being appreciated by many.
The main aim of these spaces is to enrich the already diverse and thriving music scene in Newport by encouraging even more performance. These buskers are more than welcome to now set up shop during the day at one of these designated spots and perform, instead of waiting until the evening when the venues in the area are open for business.
These 'busk stops' are the next step in deepening Newport's love for music and showcasing its incredibly rich local talent.
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