Yesterday saw an amazing drumming display above, and beside, Tooting Broadway Station, to launch The Streets, a new and ambitious programme bringing live music and performance to the high streets of six outer London boroughs this summer.

The idea is to animate local streets, giving residents and visitors the chance to see and take part in something new and spectacular, using their communal space – the high street – as its stage.

Music and event producer, Serious, is working with a consortium of boroughs – Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Croydon, Wandsworth, Richmond and Kingston-upon-Thames – to reignite the full potential of the high street, putting cultural activity and commercial priorities together. 
 

The Streets launched on Thursday 9th July, 3.30pm, in Kingston-upon-Thames with Australian percussion star, Ben Walsh, performing in the market place. Currently in residency at the Southbank Centre, Ben played his spectacular Drum Wheel – created from recycled material – for a thrilling short performance, and did so again in Tooting on the 14th of July. A ground-breaking drummer, Ben has performed all over the world, constantly pushing the boundaries of percussion. He encourages everyone to participate and get involved:  “to all the people with a small idea in a big city which seems too difficult....just go for it people, just dive into the deep end, into that creative pool”.

Ben performed atop Tooting Broadway station to the delight and surprise of Tooting residents. He was accompanied by Adriano Adewale, who also gave a fantastic performance afterwards in the Graveney and Meadow.

The Streets will continue on the following dates:

• Thursday 16th July, 1.30pm, in Ilford
• Tuesday 28th July, 6pm, in South Norwood

The Streets programme will return in the autumn, becoming part of Festival on the Move in the EFG London Jazz Festival, bringing music to shopping centres, shops, cafés, pubs and libraries, aiming to engage and surprise residents with unexpected performances from a rich artistic offering. Next year The Streets will continue with an explosive Summer Festival and will partner once again with the EFG London Jazz Festival in late 2016.

For more information, email Justine Kenyon at arts@wandsworth.gov.uk