The Belles are a group of mature women who adore music, dancing and demand a social life. They are a unique group, determined to have fun and become a central feature of the community.
The Buskers are a group of talented vocalists who act as a learning academy for budding professional singers. These two groups still exist today because of their interdependence. The Belles follow the Buskers whenever they perform, swelling the audiences and raising the level of enjoyment. Both women are good organisers, powerful personalities and the nicest people imaginable. On the first night in Yarmouth, as I entered the bar area, more than 20 Belles were grinning at me β each wearing the most hideous pretend plastic dentures.
The Belles are a lot more than fun-loving comics and fundraisers. He kept phoning her every few minutes and she was struggling to cope with it. Do you hear? The rise of the Barnsley Buskers would never have happened without the enthusiastic support of the Belles. These entertainers had honed their stage-craft in clubs over many years. In the traditional sense, buskers are street performers but this new type of busker operated as part of a team, on stage, for roughly 20 minutes each.
They had to be talented and slick enough to know which songs worked and to interact smoothly with any audience. On the completion of a successful evening they were paid a remittance for filling the club with thirsty punters.
As novice singers became more accomplished and bought their own expensive equipment, they too took their turn to host an evening and earn a fee. There are two things that will forever stick in my memory about these two groups. The very thought of it still sends a thrill down my spine:.
