Before downloading the songs, give this a read first!
Now what was all
the fuss about???
The story is actually very simple. Three years ago, having fallen deep into debt, everything in my life seemed in disarray. I fell into a deep depression, something I have done many times before. Which I why I appreciate happiness and how we actually acheive it in our lives.
Whenever you are in deep depression, one of the things that keeps you there is yourself. Because there are just to many problems around you. That you've failed to solve and why you became depressed in the first place. The motavation, self-confiendence has gone.
Depression is the reverse of outward aggression. I detest violence. The strongest person physically isn't always the best one to "Resolve the conflict." Compassion and understanding is a better key. And while we educate the other not to offend, to find why they conflict with you.
The simple truth is I am very lucky to be here still. I took my anger out on myself, though it was largely caused for me by other people.
But to turn and face my problems was the hardest step. But everyone keeps telling you to have a bit more faith in fellow human beings. That there are authorities out there to protect you and care for you and your welfare.
I had spent the last seven years slowly losing money while trying to build up my business. Because I'm a childrens entertainer. It's something I started doing as a hobby business and turned into something more. because I found I was actually quite good at it, and enjoyed doing it.
I met lots of different types of people and performed in many different places. Places I'd have never been to and seen. And to spend your working hours helping kids have a great day on their birthdays was life enriching.
Debt, was my major problem. Under much pressure from my family to "At least try a proper job" I got a job in telesales. I had one real goal while I was there, to earn enough to buy enough things, pay off enough of the essential debts and get my business and revive my business. And make it work better then before.
Despite many setbacks, I eventually managed it, and was sacked the day before my first new show! However, it still took a while for it to get going as I couldn't afford advertising, so I took a job as a Channel 5 Re-tuner!
That was great fun. especially when you knocked on the door, dressed in your Channel 5 outfit and say "Good afternoon, I'm Graham from Channel 5... " to which they would stop me and say "No you're not! You're "Happy Graham!" I'm not letting a clown in to try and fix my video for me!" (But they did!)
By the time the contract was over unfortuantely the relationship I was in was also over, and it was her flat and I was still heavily in debt.
The business was recovering, and slowly so was I. The shows I were doing went extremely well, as they virtually all do! Which is why I do them! Spreading happiness around is a job they don't advertise at the Job Center.
Respite came with a short contract at a farmhouse, where I got free lodgings for running the kids to school. I don't always land on my feet, but this time I had no doubts that I had. It gave me time away to at least build a plan to get back on my feet. My thanks go to the family, workers and all the animals.
What I needed to be able to earn an income with the flexability to be able to do my childrens shows, which were my major source of income. They were mainly at the weekends but could crop up during the week. And each show means more people seeing what you do and how good you are.. and hopefully there are your next bookings.
I had tried busking in York, and before I hit the worst of my depression, it was actually beginning to pay rather good dividends. I'd sold my entire disco gear to buy a decent semi-acoustic guitar, which I amplified with a michrophone through an old music center!
I decided to use amplification because quite simply, my voice is not a particularly powerful one. Instead I seem to be more sensitive to the words I am singing and what I am singing about. There are parts I virtually whisper down the microphone or move away from it to create the volume need for what I'm singing.
It also tells the audience that you are trying to do this properly. You want it to sound nice and for them to be able to hear it and enjoy your peformance. You are not just someone playing a few tunes to try and enough for a can of special Brew or something a little stronger.
Instead I was to get into a position to repay debts and get my much overdue tax situation sorted out. In the belief that the more professionally you do something, the more people pay you.
From that experience I had in York three years ago, I decided to try my hand at busking in Bath. I had visited Bath a few times and loved it. I also watched and enjoyed many of the street entertainers.
My main question was was I actually good enough? I takes an awful lot of self belief (Or Special Brew!) to stand up in a public square and start singing to people. Especially if they have never seen you before!
Instead of pitching striaght in I visited the square many times, just watching the buskers and introducing myself, and the various businesses and different doorman of the Pump Rooms.
I was told very early on by some buskers that I risked having my head cut off for using an amp. I pointed out that they used one for their backing tape!
"But.. that's different" they said.
I disagreed. The problem is simply one of volume. I could have put a guitar tape in and simply sang over the top of it, but I'd still need a microphone to be heard.
I didn't need a tape, I could play the guitar reasonably enough. I just hoped common sense would win through.
I forgot.... this is real life.
The ban everybody in the whole wide world knows about it seems!
But what of the music?
Just how awful was it?
Well why don't you listen for yourself? That amplified noise that Mr. Carter, Environmental Health Officer of Bath, when heard at a distance over 50 meters, deemed "A Nuisance." Do you agree with him?
Because the amplifier I used was a Karaoke Machine, maximum output 70 watt. I used it at just below the half-way mark, so was playing at around 30 watt. I didn't buy the amp for it's power, I bought it for the quality of it's sound and the conrol you had of that sound. It even had a graphic equilizer as well as master and channel volumes. I also had a volume switch on my guitar and seperate graphic equilizer.
It's other great feature was that it could be powered by mains, batteries, or from a 12Volt DC source, such as a car/motorcycle battery, the latter being what I used for busking!
I was in total control of my volume. The rest was up to my skill and my nerve. One eye entertaining the audience, one eye warding off drunks from shouting down the microphone.
The money I rarely looked at. That was "Gift from God" as far as I was concerned. A voluntary gift from each person given as a token, not expression of, their pleasure gained from my performance.
The fortunate thing was, instead of playing a backing tape, instead I recorded my set, on several occasions!
The tapes bring back great memories for me and material I hope to send off to the "Right people" (Whoever they are and hiding!) to say "Hey.. let's give this guy a proper stage and earn some decent money!"
It also put paid to Mr. Carters testimony that when he served the notice on me, he only served the one notice because I was playing alone. In fact I was playing with a flute player. He then testified that the flute player wasn't using the amp, which is what he was banning.
The answer to that question is on several tapes. Because Jez (My fellow busking flute player) often played alongside un-amplified, and the fact he was able to do so gives you an idea of what level I was amplified up to.
But for his solo's, such as for "Annies Song" he'd play down the microphone. And clearly shows so on the tape.
I was going to use the tape as evidence at my original magistrates court and even took it with me. I didn't use it though for 1 reason.
There where so many other defences I clearly had, that if I didn't win my appeal there was something very dodgy going on.
The simple fact is the Magistrates have to be seen to be backing the enforcement officers of the law, especially of their own city. No matter what the evidence. And already a lot of dodgy things had been happening.
However, I knew that if all went wrong that I would take it to the Crown Court. That would take place in Bristol, not Bath. It would be a Judge(s), trained in Law and the application of the law. Without the bias (Hopefully!) of local magistrates.
If you haven't done so, check out the report of my Court case. Put yourself in my position and see whether you see good justice at work.
Then read how the Council managed to force me out of a Crown court Appeal, by refusing to adjourn when I was down with a heavy dose of flu.
Add to that how my star witness, Jorge Mabuza, who was there when I received the ban, used exactly the same amp without being banned, is now suddenly dead. Have a quick read of that to.
After a lot of persuation, including from council employees who work in the Square and responsible for security saying they would certainly turn a blind eye, I did 6 performances with my amplifier this year.
The perfomances went absolutely brilliantly, I was even applauded for setting up!
I stopped the day I got a call from Mr Carter. Asking if I'd recieved his letter? I replied I hadn't and he told me he had sent it to my PO Box. This despite knowing my address.
He informed me that he had received a complaint saying that I was using my amp again, and that if that where true, I was liable to be prosecuted for breaking the Abatement Notice.
The ban has already been very long and costly.
The reason Bath City council are fighting this hard (and dirtily, pulling off every naughty trick in the book) is because they already know of my intention that when proved right I will be claiming compensation for every day I could have performed and earned money.
Plus more for all the duress I have had to suffer and the problems the povety and loss of income has caused me. As well as tarnishing my very good reputuation.
Since that day Mr. Carter phoned, my guitar and amp have remained at home. Instead I had to be interviewed by him "Under Caution." and he is now recommending I be prosecuted for breaching that Noise Abatement Order, that he served on me,.
Because he heard my songs from just past 50 meters, and decided they were a "Nusiance", not "Pleasure".
Now you can decide for yourself. Because the amp and guitar have had one outing since. By taking my act back to where it started, Kings Square, York.
And I recorded it. This, citizens and tourists of Bath, is what Mr. Carter and the council don't want you to hear. But York now thinks is just great.
And now I'm Busking on the net!
The idea is quite simple. Choose a song and download it. If you like it... put "Money in my hat" by sending me a cheque to my PO Box!
Donations of £15 and over, enclose your address and I will send you my CD "Looking For Trouble." This contains 11 songs and is all my own work. Then pop the same CD in a computer and you will find the "Looking For Trouble" CD website!
The CD "website" has lots of things on it, including mpeg video of the concert I played at Baths Royal Victoria Park, and two videos of two songs taken at rehersals.
For £6 donation I will send a CD containing 3-4 songs from the main CD, but also contain the website, or an audio tape of the whole album.
Send donations (Payable GP Walker) to:
"Don't Ban Grod", PO Box 141, Kingswood, Bristol, BS30 5RY, England
Now simply click on the song you want to download and I'll be jumping down the phone line to busk that song just for you!
The songs are recorded as mp3 format, so you will need an mp3 player. If you haven't got one I can recommend "Sonic" which is downloadable for free off the net.
Click below on this link to get a Sonique MP3 player. Use your browser "Back" tool to get back to this page to download the songs.
GET ME A SONIQUE MP3 PLAYER NOW!
These songs are laid out in the order I played them in my set. You can choose any order to download them.. but hey... why not sit back and enjoy the set as it was meant! (Download time is variable to modem speed, but most download in about 15 minutes or less.)
CLICK ON HERE TO GO TO THE SONG MENU!