Cam Cole busking in Camden Town [Jose Palmer]

A BUSKER who shot to fame after being filmed singing in Camden Town has warned against the latest crackdown against street performers.

Cam Cole – who plays “hippie stoner rock mixed with blues and grunge” and has more than 70,000 followers on Instagram – said he grew his fanbase through people sharing videos of him at the designated live music pitch outside HSBC at the Britannia Junction.

Street performers have told the New Journal there has been stricter policing there in recents weeks and how they have been handed official letters warning about noise nuisance.

It follows complaints from residents about musicians playing the “same handful of bad songs on repeat” at very loud levels.

Mr Cole said: “I spent the first few years playing in the Barfly and the Dublin Castle. Now, because we’ve got smartphones, people don’t go out to watch live music any more. No one turns up to gigs if they don’t know who you are. “So how do you get your music to people?

“It’s either being in the right circle and licking the right a*******s or going out and street performing or using the algorithms to your benefit. The street is the only place left.”

Mr Cole said he did not agree with the restrictions that come with busking licences in Camden, adding: “You couldn’t call it a licence, more of a strategic plan to stop good vibes.”

He called for greater freedom for buskers who “are actually good at what they’re doing”.

Owl has received a warning letter

A fortnight ago the New Journal saw community protection officers give out a warning letter to rock ’n’ roll musician Joe Luck, who goes by his stage name Owl.

It said: “We have received complaints alleging excessive noise from the presence of street performers at Britannia Junction, Camden Town. This is causing nuisance to the local community, residents and businesses. The council is investigating and responding to these allegations.”

Mr Luck, a 19-year-old from Essex who lives life on the road, said: “Camden is known for its street performance and its music and keeping the culture of rock and roll and punk rock alive.”

He added: “To complain about the music rather than the people and the buses and the cars, I don’t see much sense in it.”

Under the rules, buskers have to apply for a licence that would allow them to play for a maximum of 25 minutes at a time. They are told to play no later than 9pm and not to play over a certain volume.

Residents say this scheme has never been properly enforced and claim that a hardcore group of professional street performers have commandeered the spot and are driving people to distraction.

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We may apply licence conditions to restrict activity in busy ‘pinch points’, such as immediately outside Camden Town station or in residential areas. We are keen to encourage buskers to submit licence applications to allow busking activity to take place, however we will also seek to take action to address unlicensed busking activity which can have an impact on local residents and businesses.”