A Globe-trotting pavement minstrel is up in arms over “noise” from a mobile radio studio drowning out his pavement saxophone sessions at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
Jonathan Townsend, 63, blew his top yesterday when he arrived at his favourite jam spot outside the busy Village Green and found Algoa FM doing live broadcasts across the road.
“This is the National Arts Festival. This kind of sh#t destroys the vibe,” he complained.
Townsend said it was unfair that a commercial radio station was being paid to “make as much noise as they can” while street buskers battled to get heard.
“When I asked them if they could turn down the music, they said they had been paid to play loud music.
“I am not paid to play. I have to play to get paid … this noise is driving my business away.”
Algoa FM veteran Roy Williams yesterday denied they were destroying the vibe for street buskers near the Village Green.
He said the radio station had been put there by festival organisers and they were only broadcasting three hours a day until Friday this week.
“There was no argument. We were allocated this spot and we cannot move somewhere else.”
Undeterred, Townsend hooked up his amp and tried his best to blow up a storm for passing trade entering the popular Village Green.
A veteran pavement saxophonist who has spent the past 37 years criss-crossing the world busking long hours to earn his daily crust, Townsend said although it was a tough life travelling light and playing, he would not change it for the world.
“Sometimes the cops harass me, and I have even been fined before but I just don’t pay them.”
Although Townsend is living a rolling stone lifestyle that many dream of, he said it was tough going.
“I have no medical aid, no pension, no car, no house … everything I own is carried with me.”
Hiking around the country, Townsend said living the minstrel life, sleeping in his tent or with people he meets on the road, kept him musically sharp.
“Things are very fluid and spontaneous. I never stay long in one place. I live life like a rolling stone.”
After years busking in Europe, Townsend returned home to South Africa and now travels around the country as well as in Namibia and Botswana.
Playing on an ancient sax he found at a garage sale in Cape Town, the musician said even though it was battered and held together with elastic bands, it was his pride and joy.
“To me it is priceless. I will die happy if I can go out playing my sax on the street. Then they can bury me with my saxophone.”
Radio waves too much for Busker’s street sax sound
Jonathan Townsend, 63, blew his top yesterday when he arrived at his favourite jam spot outside the busy Village Green and found Algoa FM doing live broadcasts across the road.
“This is the National Arts Festival. This kind of sh#t destroys the vibe,” he complained.
Townsend said it was unfair that a commercial radio station was being paid to “make as much noise as they can” while street buskers battled to get heard.
“When I asked them if they could turn down the music, they said they had been paid to play loud music.
“I am not paid to play. I have to play to get paid … this noise is driving my business away.”
Algoa FM veteran Roy Williams yesterday denied they were destroying the vibe for street buskers near the Village Green.
He said the radio station had been put there by festival organisers and they were only broadcasting three hours a day until Friday this week.
“There was no argument. We were allocated this spot and we cannot move somewhere else.”
Undeterred, Townsend hooked up his amp and tried his best to blow up a storm for passing trade entering the popular Village Green.
A veteran pavement saxophonist who has spent the past 37 years criss-crossing the world busking long hours to earn his daily crust, Townsend said although it was a tough life travelling light and playing, he would not change it for the world.
“Sometimes the cops harass me, and I have even been fined before but I just don’t pay them.”
Although Townsend is living a rolling stone lifestyle that many dream of, he said it was tough going.
“I have no medical aid, no pension, no car, no house … everything I own is carried with me.”
Hiking around the country, Townsend said living the minstrel life, sleeping in his tent or with people he meets on the road, kept him musically sharp.
“Things are very fluid and spontaneous. I never stay long in one place. I live life like a rolling stone.”
After years busking in Europe, Townsend returned home to South Africa and now travels around the country as well as in Namibia and Botswana.
Playing on an ancient sax he found at a garage sale in Cape Town, the musician said even though it was battered and held together with elastic bands, it was his pride and joy.
“To me it is priceless. I will die happy if I can go out playing my sax on the street. Then they can bury me with my saxophone.”
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