Sound of the Underground: the Busker Aiming to Play Every London Tube Stop
Strumming his acoustic steel string guitar on a busy street in east London, 27-year-old Australian singer-songwriter Dan Tredget is a man on a mission. Originating from Perth, Western Australia, Tredget has set himself an ambitious goal that sets him apart from the average street musician. He aims to become the first person to busk at every London Underground station. With a total of 272 stops on the network, this is no small feat.
A Musical Journey Through London
“It’s pretty overwhelming when I look at the map sometimes, seeing how many stations I’ve got left to complete,” Tredget shared with AFP after marking his 124th stop at Upton Park. “But it’s also quite uplifting to know that I’m pretty close to the halfway mark.” His journey embarked in April 2023, sparked by an unexpected cancellation of a guitar lesson. Seizing the free time, Tredget decided to venture into the world of London busking.
Initially, Tredget considered playing at “iconic” spots across the British capital such as the London Eye and Big Ben. However, he soon realized the unique appeal of the Underground. “The Underground itself is pretty iconic. And it’d be a great way to just get out to all corners of the city,” he noted.
More Than Just Music
Busking inside the stations isn’t as straightforward as it may seem due to an official licensing system and fierce competition for pitches. Thus, Tredget predominantly performs on the streets just outside the stations, entertaining passersby with renditions of songs by popular artists like Oasis, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran.
About twenty to thirty stops into his challenge, and with his earnings on the rise, Tredget decided to pair his musical mission with a noble cause. He began fundraising for London’s homelessness charity Glass Door, aiming to leverage the foot traffic around central stations for contributions. However, he discovered that stations further from the city center proved to be more lucrative. “People are a bit more relaxed, maybe. They’re not rushing around in the outer zones and they’ve got a bit more time to hang around and watch for a bit, have a chat,” Tredget explained.
The most successful spot so far has been Tooting Broadway on the Northern Line, in south London. Here, a mix of street and online donations recently helped Tredget surpass the £1,000 mark towards his £10,000 goal.
The Long Road Ahead
As Tredget continues his musical quest along the District Line—the network’s largest by number of stops—he is met with curious and generous Londoners. Despite the long journey ahead to reach his fundraising goal, Tredget is motivated and already considering future challenges. These include potentially extending his busking adventure to include the Overground and the Docklands Light Railway in east London, adding a further 158 stations to his playlist.
An easy-going Australian with a guitar and a goal, Dan Tredget’s ambitious endeavor not only showcases his musical skill but also reflects a heartwarming effort to connect with Londoners and support a great cause.
Deepika 
Divya