Dr. Busker
Encyclopedia
Dr. Busker is a musician
based in England
. He is often billed as The Last Victorian
Pub
Pianist
, and is well known in the world of preservation and steam rallies, at which he is a regular performer.
The original Victorian pub pianists would keep a steady stream of tunes and songs flowing, while the Pub Landlord
kept a steady stream of beer
flowing in the pianist's direction. Dr. Busker is keen to continue the tradition and often plays in pubs and bars in exchange for free beer from the Landlord and the chance to pass the hat round at the end of the session. Dr. Busker also plays the accordion
(sometimes called the squeezebox). The latter, complete with cannon
of John Hampden's Regiment of the English Civil War Society, is featured on the album Thrashing Machine (see below).
Dr. Busker performs a wide range of music
, including folk songs
, ballads, sea-shanties
, rugby
song
s and music hall
songs, as well as his own compositions. One such composition "Mister Dull And Boring" caused an outcry in Milton Keynes
, and local residents complained to the local BBC Radio
radio station, claiming that their new town
was anything but "dull and boring" as the song suggested. A large proportion of the songs composed by Dr. Busker can potentially be perceived as 'risque' and offensive, as they are commonly based on taboo subjects and can contain illicit lyrics. For example, the 'Lobster Song' found on the Pandamonium album, mixes a traditionally folk sound with crude and bawdy lyrics;
"Singing roll tiddly ‘ole, shit or bust
Never let your’ bollocks dangle in the dust"
Although Dr. Busker is best known for his musical performances, he has many other interests, such as palaeontology
, and the preservation of vintage machinery.
Dr. Busker appears annually at the Great Dorset Steam Fair
with the Steam Fair Choir. A number of videos
have also been produced.
Dr. Busker regualrly appears at midlands steam rallies including the Hanbury Steam Rally
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
based in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He is often billed as The Last Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
Pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
Pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and is well known in the world of preservation and steam rallies, at which he is a regular performer.
The original Victorian pub pianists would keep a steady stream of tunes and songs flowing, while the Pub Landlord
Landlord
A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant . When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner...
kept a steady stream of beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
flowing in the pianist's direction. Dr. Busker is keen to continue the tradition and often plays in pubs and bars in exchange for free beer from the Landlord and the chance to pass the hat round at the end of the session. Dr. Busker also plays the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
(sometimes called the squeezebox). The latter, complete with cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
of John Hampden's Regiment of the English Civil War Society, is featured on the album Thrashing Machine (see below).
Dr. Busker performs a wide range of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, including folk songs
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, ballads, sea-shanties
Sea shanty
A shanty is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels. Shanties became ubiquitous in the 19th century era of the wind-driven packet and clipper ships...
, rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s and music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
songs, as well as his own compositions. One such composition "Mister Dull And Boring" caused an outcry in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
, and local residents complained to the local BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
radio station, claiming that their new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
was anything but "dull and boring" as the song suggested. A large proportion of the songs composed by Dr. Busker can potentially be perceived as 'risque' and offensive, as they are commonly based on taboo subjects and can contain illicit lyrics. For example, the 'Lobster Song' found on the Pandamonium album, mixes a traditionally folk sound with crude and bawdy lyrics;
"Singing roll tiddly ‘ole, shit or bust
Never let your’ bollocks dangle in the dust"
Although Dr. Busker is best known for his musical performances, he has many other interests, such as palaeontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
, and the preservation of vintage machinery.
Dr. Busker appears annually at the Great Dorset Steam Fair
Great Dorset Steam Fair
The Great Dorset Steam Fair is an annual show featuring steam-powered vehicles and machinery. It now covers and runs for five days from the Wednesday after the UK August bank holiday...
with the Steam Fair Choir. A number of videos
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
have also been produced.
Dr. Busker regualrly appears at midlands steam rallies including the Hanbury Steam Rally
Discography
- Turn Of The Century (Shakespeare's Rally Promotions)
- The Safety Record (Shakespeare's Rally Promotions)
- Old King Coal (Shakespeare's Rally Promotions)
- Fat Girl's Bike (Rallyscene)
- Hoist Up The Dorset Flag (Happy Cow Music)
- The Thrashing Machine (Rallyscene)
- Back In The Shit Again (Happy Cow Music)
- Pandamonium (The Appleby Fair Company)
External links
- DoctorBusker.com - The official websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
of Dr. Busker. - Great Dorset Steam Fair - Dr. Busker appears here each year with the Steam Fair Choir.
- Shakespeares Rally Promotions - Dr. Busker CD's for sale