We are excited to announce that Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity has been working with Creative Harborough to bring musical and creative performances to the Undercroft of the Old Grammar School.
We are not charging Creative Harborough to use the space, and we have paid £1,700 for the PPL PRS licence, which will cover 12 months.
This new busking initiative will make it easier for local performers—especially young talent—to showcase their skills, entertain the public, and bring vibrant energy to the town centre.
This will launch a unique opportunity for local artists to perform in a public space. The kick off will be 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, November 28th, which also happens to be Late Night Shopping.
A Platform for Creativity
Busking has deep roots in history, dating back to medieval times, and continues to play a vital role in the journey of many performers. Whether it’s the start of a lifelong career, a way to grow an audience or a platform to experiment with new material, busking offers invaluable opportunities for artists.
This new initiative removes traditional barriers like licensing, allowing grassroots performers to thrive in a supportive, community-centred environment. It will help artists gain live performance experience and bring a fresh wave of live entertainment to Market Harborough for residents and visitors to enjoy.
A Shared Vision for the Arts
Claire Webb from Creative Harborough explains:
“We wanted to make it easy for anyone to have an opportunity to share their talent and creativity. Market Harborough and Bowdens Charity, who own the Old Grammar School, have supported the initiative by funding a PRS PPL music license and kindly permitting Creative Harborough to use the venue free of charge. Artists don’t have to worry about copyright issues when performing covers.
“The space isn’t just for musicians, either. We welcome dancers, actors, and other performers too. All participants need to do is book a slot!”
The Old Grammar School (https://www.mhbcharity.co.uk/old-grammar-school/) is the iconic symbol of Market Harborough and a Grade I listed property, and the Undercroft is ideally situated to host these performances.
A Celebration of Local Talent
The program starts on Thursday, 28th November, coinciding with the town’s late-night shopping event.
The evening will feature performances from local bands signed with Somewhere Records, (https://www.somewhererecords.co.uk/) Market Harborough’s very own record label. After that, regular performance slots will be available twice a week, offering up to 20 opportunities for artists to take the stage.
Claire shares how the idea came to life:
“The inspiration came from the live entertainment under the Old Grammar School at Creative Harborough’s launch event earlier this year. The audience loved the joy and energy it brought to the town centre, and local businesses noticed increased footfall.”
Shaping the Future of Live Performance
This initiative aligns with Creative Harborough’s mission to make creativity accessible to everyone in the community. Claire adds:
“Our organisation aims to help anyone in our town create or experience creativity in their daily lives. We’ll run the scheme for at least a year and gather feedback from performers and audiences. If there’s a strong demand, we’ll seek further funding to keep the program going.”
Get Involved
Artists interested in participating can visit Creative Harborough’s website at https://creativeharborough.org/busking for more details. The site includes simple rules of participation and a code of conduct to ensure a positive experience for everyone.
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