As Londoner’s prepare to take to the polls tomorrow we take a look at the fantastic busking competition Mayor Boris launched in the Capital.

Boris always supports London’s street performers. Back in 2009 he launched ‘Rhythm of London’ busking competition which gave musicians the opportunity to gain exposure and win several prizes, including a license to busk on the underground and the opportunity to record an EP.

This year he has expanded ‘Rhythm of London’ with ‘Gigs,’ which is London’s biggest ever street music competition for young musicians aged 11-25. The competition is open until the 1st June and you can enter by uploading your audition and sending a link. Or you can request a live audition which will take place this month in London. (click here to register)

The shortlist will then play at ‘Gigs’ busking pitches in some of the best spots in the capital between 21st July and 25th August this year. All shortlisted acts will have one of their five busking performances filmed and put on the website open to a public vote. The public, along with a panel of experts, will decide who will perform in a grand final in September.

Last year’s Rhythm of London festival included eleven finalists who played in front of thousands at the Vintage Festival on the South Bank. The Robbie Boyd Band came first and won an official license to busk on the London Underground.

Boris has said of the competition: ”It is high time we recognised how marvellous our buskers truly are. I’m searching for the finest singer or group to join the myriad of talented musicians on the Underground.”

The Robbie Boyd Band talk about the Big Busk competition -

Watch Boris talk about Rhythm of London -

Watch last year’s winners The Robbie Boyd Band‘s new single ‘Never Let You Go’-

Click here to register to enter this year’s busking competition

Are you going to enter Gigs busking competition? We’d love to hear from you and your thoughts on Boris’s busking schemes. Tweet us or write in the comment box below.

- Emma Spedding