Stripping it Back: What Busking at BUSK BD Reminded Me About Live Music
Playing weddings and private gigs is amazing. I love the clean setups, the nice rooms, and knowing exactly how the night is going to go. But on Saturday, May 23rd, I completely swapped the safety net of dressed-up venues for something a bit chaotic, totally raw, and honestly? One of the best gigs I’ve had in a long time.
I took part in BUSK BD (The Bradford Buskers Festival), and they set me up at Queensgate Square from 3 PM to 5 PM. Just me, my acoustic guitar, and whoever happened to be walking past. Two hours absolutely flew by.
Performing Live
There is a crazy feeling you get when you perform out in the open. The people walking past haven't bought a ticket to see you. They’re just heading to work, shopping, or grabbing a coffee. But then they hear a song. They slow down. They turn around, smile, and actually stick around.
When a total stranger decides your music is worth pausing their day for, and they walk over to throw some money into your guitar case? That right there is the ultimate validation and the best buzz you can get as a musician.
Red-Hot Weather & Unfiltered Energy
The weather in Bradford was absolutely roasting, and the crowd matched the temperature. My hotspot was right opposite Tiffin Coffee House and right next to Waterstones Bradford—which is literally in the old Wool Exchange building (if you know Bradford, you know how stunning that place is).
Because the sun was out, the square turned into a massive party. We had people clapping along from the first song, impromptu backup singers jumping in, and full-on dancers in the middle of the street.
The Crowd
Looking out and seeing little children, teenagers, and older generations all vibing to the same acoustic tracks side-by-side was amazing. That’s exactly what live music is supposed to be about. A massive thank you to everyone who stopped by, clapped, danced, or just smiled as they passed through—you made the afternoon what it was.
The absolute peak of the afternoon was covering Michael Jackson’s Human Nature. With the new MJ movie out right now, everyone has those tracks on the brain. The second I hit the intro, the crowd went to a whole new level. Hearing a public square sing that back to you on a Saturday afternoon was unreal.
OSCAR PLAYING GUITAR BY WATERSTONES - Credit North of Here
☕ Shoutout to the Tiffin Coffee Team!
Massive thanks to the staff at Tiffin Coffee House who kept me hydrated in the heat. But the biggest ego boost came after the set: they came out and told me their team actually turned off the indoor café music because the customers requested to just sit and listen to my live set through the doors. That is unmatched local support.
Back to Basics
Busking completely strips everything back. There’s no fancy lighting, no sound engineer, and no curated atmosphere. The music has to stand on its own two feet. It’s pure, unfiltered connection, and it genuinely reminded me why I fell in love with playing guitar in the first place.
Diverse Sound Collective
Huge shoutout to the Diverse Sound Collective for putting together a flawless festival. Bradford needs way more events like BUSK BD. I don't have my next public date locked in just yet, but I am seriously buzzing to partner up with the collective again for their next event very soon. Keep your eyes on my socials for updates on that!
Credit North of Here
Need an Acoustic Guitarist or Wedding Singer in Yorkshire, Lancashire, or Manchester?
While I love hitting the streets for festivals like BUSK BD, my main gig is bringing this exact same high-energy acoustic vibe to weddings, parties, and events.
Whether you want a relaxed acoustic set while everyone is having drinks, or a massive sing-along set to get the crowd moving before the evening DJ takes over, I travel all over the place. I regularly play gigs as a wedding singer across Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Manchester.
If you’re planning a wedding or an event and want live music that actually gets people involved and singing along, head over to my Contact Page.
Drop me a message with your date and venue, and let's see what we can put together for your day.
🎸 Oscar Flanagan
Acoustic Guitarist & Wedding Singer | Yorkshire, Lancashire, Manchester
