Preston Busking Festival Reflection 2015

Nov, 6 2015

~Phil Kaila is more than a one trick pony. Having crafted his skills as a promoter, choreographer, world salsa shine champion and  dance instructor, he has gone onto  rebuilding and sustaining the lives of underprivileged people in Africa and the UK  with his Community Help Africa project.

Phil’s planning and pitching abilities gave him the platform to recently present the first ever Busking Festival in the city centre of Preston. Communities from neighbouring towns and talented musicians and performers set up tent on Saturday 24th October 2015.

It was a relatively early start for the fun and mayhem to begin. At 10am acts graced the Preston Flag Market, for an hour and half individual buskers played alongside professional artists. Then from 12noon till 4pm busking groups accompanied professional artists. These ranged from choirs to street performers that included jugglers and fire eaters.

The concluding part of the day took place between 5pm-9.30pm. Buskers strummed their guitars as professional artists banged the beating drum.

Musicians that played came from the obscure (Captain Jackdaw and the Rum bucket ) to the more familiar ( Joe Keegan from BBC One’s ‘The Voice)

There was also time for foreign artists too ( Zee the Chinese singer and musician ) and Malawi based magician Chris Woodworth (aka Magi’ Chris ) who performed the art of close up magic to amaze and entertain  the audience.

Locations for the attractions took place across the city centre which  included :- outside Fishergate centre on Birley street opposite the Railway Station, opposite the corner of Theatre Street, next to Subway and by the Guild Hall entrance on Lancaster Road.  Additionally, the stores that supported the day’s activities included :- Nando’s Cheapside, BHS Restaurant and KFC Fishergate.

Thanks and appreciation must also go to the staff in St. George’s Shopping Centre and two local choirs := ‘ Preston People’s Choir’ and ‘The Song Rooms Choir Chorley’.

Community Help Africa helps those who may not have the resources or skills in order to have a secure place of  work. With support, teaching and utilizing practical skills many volunteers go on to find employment after their time with Community Help Africa.

The Preston Busking Festival is an extension of the hard work Phil and his team endure  in order to preserve the culture and heritage of the local community.

 For more information on the work Phil does or to learn about the positive benefits of this years busking festival contact him on enquiries@prestonbuskingfestival.co.uk or call him on 07899866408

You can also visit the website to learn about the work Phil does in teaching schools and community groups the cultural diversity of African Drumming. ( www.communityhelpafrica.co.uk)

In the words of Phil Kaila “this was a trial, a test to see how it would work, on the back of this we aim to make a bigger one next year.”

With the growing number of students at the University enrolled on performing artists and music based courses and the older flock who regularly attend the local singers nights, 2016 may prove that ‘Preston’s  Really Got Talent!!”.