Robert King and the Infinite Busk

Facebook    Bandcamp

I am a crafter of defiantly optimistic songs, player of guitar both bombastic and delicate. Honest and simple… well, and with some complex noodling thrown in for good measure.

If you’re after the songs, follow the link to bandcamp above – or for what I’m doing now, and where you might see me play, follow the link to facebook.

However, if you’re seeking a saga of trust and human generosity, herein lie tales of busking my own songs through Europe and beyond (in 387 towns and 23 countries no less), hitching and camping along the way.

In an age when defiant optimism and trust are sorely needed.

Click on a picture to read the blog number… or scroll further down for a list of blogs (with more info as to their individual content), plus a map, a music player and statistics (yum)

                                  

Map of places busked
KEY ~ Purple~2022-23  Dark Blue~2019  Pale Blue~2018  Green~2017  Yellow~2016  Orange~2015  Red~2014 Pink~2013 and before

BLOG POSTS (in reverse chronological order) (click coloured text to read)
2017
NOTE: Stories from 2018-2019 coming soon-ish. Stories of 2023… keep an eye on my Facebook
Chapter 18: From Brittany to Freiburg (France, Germany, September-October 2017)
Chapter 17: Peaks and Monks (More Highlights of an Island) (England, Scotland, August-September 2017)
Chapter 16: Southward Bound: A Scandinavian Return Journey (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, June-July 2017)
Chapter 15: Journey to the Real North (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Norway, May-June 2017)
Chapter 14: East of the Alps, East of the Baltic (Austria, Slovakia, Poland & entering Lithuania, April-May 2017)
Chapter 13: Lakes and Mountains (Italy [Alps, including South Tyrol], April 2017)
Chapter 12: The Low Road and the High Road (France, Italy, March-April 2017)
Chapter 11: Cádiz to Catalonia (Spain [Andalucia, Valencian Community, Catalonia], March 2017)
Chapter 10: Birds Fly South… (England, France, Spain [Catalonia, Galicia, Andalucia], Portugal, January-March 2017)
2016
9. Highlights of an Island (England, Wales, Scotland, 2015-2016)
8. East of Erfurt: to Germany and Beyond (Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, June-July 2016)
7. Between the Picos and the Deep Blue Sea (Tales from Iberia pt 3) (Spain, [Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country], April-May 2016)
6. Predominantly Portugal (Tales from Iberia pt 2) (Portugal, March-April 2016)
5. An Andalucian Adventure (Tales from Iberia pt. 1) (Spain [Andalucia], March 2016)
2015
The Story So Far pt 4 (France, Poland, Scotland, England, 2015)
2014-2015
The Story So Far pt 3 (Turkey, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Germany, France, Scotland, England, 2014-2015)
2014
The Story So Far pt 2 (Italy, France, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, 2014)
2014 and before
The Story So Far pt 1 (Scotland, England, Portugal, Spain [Basque Country], France, Turkey, Greece, Italy, 2011-2014)

If you don’t have a wordpress account, you can sign up to receive email notification when I write a new blog (rarely more than one a month, and often less frequent – so it won’t clog up your inbox!)  – bottom left under “Follow Blog via Email”, click the black box with the word “FOLLOW”

~MISSION STATEMENT~ (click to read)
“So why am I determined to spread my music around the world, playing whatever I want, wherever I want, singing words that make me feel alive?

The obvious – doing something I love, managing to eat and not sleep outside (I’m not counting tents as “outside”), and feeling that it’s generally a nice idea to spread nice ideas. Well, apart from that…”

A little bio:
Born 5 June 1990, in Bruton, Somerset, England
Aug 1994: Moved to the Highlands of Scotland
June 2003: Picked up a guitar and learnt 3 chords
August 2005: Someone told me about DADGAD (what?)
2009-present: writing the songs you hear me play…
June 2013: First ever busk abroad (Coimbra, Portugal)
February 2014: Istanbul becomes the 10th city I’ve busked
August 2015: Loughborough becomes the 100th city I’ve busked
2019: Started studying BA Applied Music (Hons) at the University of the Highlands and Islands
Fill in the gaps… read the blog.

Some STATS – for the statistics-munchers out there
Towns busked: 386
Countries busked: 23 (*27 counting Scotland, Wales, the Basque Country and Catalonia separately from UK/Spain)
Capital cities busked 12 (inc. Edinburgh, 13)
Largest city busked: Istanbul – 14 million inhabitants
Smallest village busked: Holy Island, England – 180 inhabitants
Most northerly town busked: Tromsø, Norway
Most southerly town busked: Tarifa, Spain
Most westerly town busked: Cascais, Portugal
Most easterly town busked: Göreme, Turkey
Most busked cities: Edinburgh and Inverness

Country tally
UK: 89 (England: 47, Scotland: 30, Wales: 12)
Spain: 62 (inc. Basque Country: 5, and Catalonia: 6)
France: 61
Germany: 44
Italy: 33 (Inc. South Tyrol: 4)
Portugal: 16
Sweden: 12
Turkey: 12
Poland: 11
Norway: 8
Greece: 8
Finland: 6
Austria: 5
Denmark: 4
Czech Republic: 3
Slovak Republic: 3
Belgium: 2
Lithuania: 2
Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Latvia and Estonia: 1 apiece

THE FULL LIST:
1. Edinburgh, Scotland
2. Glasgow, Scotland
3. Brighton, England
4. London, England
5. Chichester, England
6. Coimbra, Portugal
7. San Sebastián/Donostia, Spain (Basque Country)
8. Sarlat-la-Canéda, France
9. Portsmouth, England
10. İstanbul, Turkey
11. Fethiye, Turkey
12. Marmaris, Turkey
13. Bodrum, Turkey
14. İzmir, Turkey
15. Aydın, Turkey
16. Chíos, Greece
17. Athens/Athína, Greece
18. Chalkída (Halkis/Chalcis), Greece
19. Vólos, Greece
20. Lárissa, Greece
21. Ioannina, Greece
22. Igoumenítsa, Greece
23. Bari, Italy
24. Potenza, Italy
25. Foggia, Italy
26. Termoli, Italy
27. Pescara, Italy
28. Rome/Roma, Italy
29. Terni, Italy
30. Orvieto, Italy
31. Siena, Italy
32. Florence/Firenze, Italy
33. Prato, Italy
34. Pistoia, Italy
35. Lucca, Italy
36. Viareggio, Italy
37. Genoa/Genova, Italy
38. Savona, Italy
39. Nice, France
40. Aix-en-Provence, France
41. Arles, France
42. Montpellier, France
43. Mende, France
44. Langogne, France
45. Le Puy-en-Velay, France
46. Clermont-Ferrand, France
47. Limoges, France
48. Brive-la-Gaillarde, France
49. Aurillac, France
50. Lyon, France
51. Chalon-sur-Saône, France
52. Prague/Praha, Czech Republic
53. Bratislava, Slovak Republic
54. Bursa, Turkey
55. Yalova, Turkey
56. Göreme, Turkey
57. Konya, Turkey
58. Alanya, Turkey
59. Çanakkale, Turkey
60. Kavála, Greece
61. Himarë, Albania
62. Kotor, Montenegro
63. Dubrovnik, Croatia
64. Berlin, Germany
65. Arras, France
66. Inverness, Scotland
67. Whitby, England
68. Swindon, England
69. Bordeaux, France
70. Bergerac, France
71. Cahors, France
72. Villefranche-de-Rouerge, France
73. Albi, France
74. Toulouse, France
75. Castres, France
76. Carcassonne, France
77. Narbonne, France
78. Beziers, France
79. Nîmes, France
80. Avignon, France
81. Valence, France
82. Perigueux, France
83. Villeneuve-sur-Lot, France
84. Agen, France
85. Auch, France
86. Carnon-Plage, France
87. Millau, France
88. Rodez, France
89. Dijon, France
90. Reims, France
91. Lille, France
92. Oliwa (Gdansk), Poland
93. Jelitkowo (Gdansk), Poland
94. Fort William, Scotland
95. Mallaig, Scotland
96. Portree/Port Righ, Scotland
97. Hexham, England
98. Barnard Castle, England
99. Robin Hood’s Bay, England
100. Loughborough, England
101. Oxford, England
102. Andover, England
103. Frome, England
104. Ullapool, Scotland
105. Stornoway/Steòrnabhagh, Scotland
106. Grimsby, England
107. Lincoln, England
108. Dover, England
109. Moulins, France
110. Bristol, England
111. Barnstaple, England
112. Exmouth, England
113. Canterbury, England
114. Leek, England
115. Madrid, Spain
116. Toledo, Spain
117. Jaén, Spain
118. Granada, Spain
119. Almuñecar, Spain
120. Nerja, Spain
121. Málaga, Spain
122. Ronda, Spain
123. Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
124. Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
125. Cádiz, Spain
126. El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain
127. Chiclana de la Frontera, Spain
128. Tarifa, Spain
129. Utrera, Spain
130. Dos Hermanas, Spain
131. Seville/Sevilla, Spain
132. Huelva, Spain
133. Faro, Portugal
134. Lagos, Portugal
135. Porto Covo, Portugal
136. Sintra, Portugal
137. Cascais, Portugal
138. Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal
139. Portalegre, Portugal
140. Cáceres, Spain
141. Viseu, Portugal
142. Lamego, Portugal
143. Vila Real, Portugal
144. Santiago de Compostela, Spain
145. Noia, Spain
146. Muros, Spain
147. Fisterra, Spain
148. A Coruña, Spain
149. Lugo, Spain
150. Ribadeo, Spain
151. Luarca, Spain
152. Áviles, Spain
153. Gijón/Xixón, Spain
154. Llanes, Spain
155. Santander, Spain
156. Astillero, Spain
157. Castro Urdiales, Spain
158. Bilbao/Bilbo, Spain (Basque Country)
159. Bermeo, Spain (Basque Country)
160. Lekeitio, Spain (Basque Country)
161. Zarautz, Spain (Basque Country)
162. Libourne, France
163. Stamford, England
164. Mainz, Germany
165. Limburg an der Lahn, Germany
166. Marburg an der Lahn, Germany
167. Göttingen, Germany
168. Herzberg am Harz, Germany
169. Goslar, Germany
170. Wernigerode, Germany
171. Burg bei Magdeburg, Germany
172. Potsdam, Germany
173. Königs Wusterhausen, Germany
174. Pirna, Germany
175. Bad Schandau, Germany
176. Kolín, Czech Republic
177. Brno, Czech Republic
178. Bielsko-Biała, Poland
179. Żywiec, Poland
180. Kraków, Poland
181. Warsaw/Warszawa, Poland
182. Poznań, Poland
183. Fürstenwald, Germany
184. Erfurt, Germany
185. Korbach, Germany
186. Cologne/Köln, Germany
187. Hasselt, Belgium
188. Leuven, Belgium
189. Chepstow, Wales
190. Lewes, England
191. Gloucester, England
192. Cheddar, England
193. Hereford, England
194. Aberystwyth, Wales
195. Machynlleth, Wales
196. Dolgellau, Wales
197. Porthmadog, Wales
198. Caernarfon, Wales
199. Bangor, Wales
200. Betws-y-Coed, Wales
201. Conwy, Wales
202. Llandudno, Wales
203. Colwyn Bay, Wales
204. Northwich, England
205. Nairn, Scotland
206. Forres, Scotland
207. Dingwall, Scotland
208. Aviemore, Scotland
209. Perth, Scotland
210. Wrexham, Wales
211. Yeovil, England
212. Warminster, England
213. Trowbridge, England
214. Falmouth, England
215. Penzance, England
216. Henley-on-Thames, England
217. High Wycombe, England
218. Huddersfield, England
219. Wetherby, England
220. Perpignan, France
221. Badalona, Spain (Catalonia)
222. Ourense, Spain
223. Monforte de Lemos, Spain
224. Vigo, Spain
225. O Porriño, Spain
226. Viana Do Castelo, Portugal
227. Porto, Portugal
228. Leiria, Portugal
229. Lisboa, Portugal
230. Évora, Portugal
231. Elvas, Portugal
232. Badajoz, Spain
233. Mérida, Spain
234. Puerto Real, Spain
235. San Fernando, Spain
236. Medina Sidonia, Spain
237. Antequera, Spain
238. Motril, Spain
239. (retail park near) El Parador de las Hortichuelas (Roquetas de Mar), Spain
240. Murcia, Spain
241. Orihuela, Spain
242. Elche/Elx, Spain
243. Elda, Spain
244. Alcoi, Spain
245. Xàtiva, Spain
246. Reus, Spain (Catalonia)
247. Valls, Spain (Catalonia)
248. Igualada, Spain (Catalonia)
249. Manresa, Spain (Catalonia)
250. Vic, Spain (Catalonia)
251. Lunel, France
252. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
253. Cavaillon, France
254. Manosque, France
255. Riez, France
256. Forcalquier, France
257. Sisteron, France
258. Gap, France
259. Briançon, France
260. Rivoli, Italy
261. Ivrea, Italy
262. Biella, Italy
263. Vercelli, Italy
264. Novara, Italy
265. Arona, Italy
266. Verbania (Pallanza/Intra), Italy
267. Varese, Italy
268. Como, Italy
269. Menaggio, Italy
270. Varenna, Italy
271. Morbegno, Italy
272. Sondrio, Italy
273. Merano/Meran, Italy (South Tyrol)
274. Bolzano/Bozen, Italy (South Tyrol)
275. Brixen/Bressanone, Italy (South Tyrol)
276. Bruneck/Brunico, Italy (South Tyrol)
277. Lienz, Austria
278. Villach, Austria
279. Graz, Austria
280. Mödling, Austria
281. Baden Bei Wien, Austria
282. Nitra, Slovak Republic
283. Košice, Slovak Republic
284. Rzeszów, Poland
285. Lublin, Poland
286. Łomża, Poland
287. Suwałki, Poland
288. Klaipėda, Lithuania
289. Palanga, Lithuania
290. Liepāja, Latvia
291. Tallinn, Estonia
292. Helsinki, Finland
293. Hämeenlinna, Finland
294. Tampere, Finland
295. Jyväskylä, Finland
296. Oulu, Finland
297. Rovaniemi, Finland
298. Tromsø, Norway
299. Harstad, Norway
300. Svolvær, Norway
301. Bodø, Norway
302. Trondheim, Norway
303. Ålesund, Norway
304. Lillehammer, Norway
305. Hamar, Norway
306. Karlstad, Sweden
307. Örebro, Sweden
308. Stockholm, Sweden
309. Norrköping, Sweden
310. Söderköping, Sweden
311. Västervik, Sweden
312. Kalmar, Sweden
313. Helsingør, Denmark
314. Odense, Denmark
315. Haderslev, Denmark
316. Aabenraa, Denmark
317. Husum, Germany
318. Heide, Germany
319. Bath, England
320. Tamworth, England
321. Buxton, England
322. Durham, England
323. Alnwick, England
324. Holy Island, England
325. Berwick-upon-Tweed, England
326. Dunbar, Scotland
327. Dunfermline, Scotland
328. Penicuik, Scotland
329. Newbury, England
330. Sherborne, England
331. Totnes, England
332. Dartmouth, England
333. Roscoff, France
334. Brest, France
335. Quimper, France
336. Douardenez, France
337. Concarneau, France
338. Lorient, France
339. Auray, France
340. Vannes, France
341. Guérande, France
342. Bourges, France
343. Nevers, France
344. Freiburg (im Breisgau), Germany
345. North Berwick, Scotland
346. Dalkeith, Scotland
347. Bathgate, Scotland
348. Galashiels, Scotland
349. Musselburgh, Scotland
350. Haddington, Scotland
351. Falkirk, Scotland
352. Tain, Scotland
353. Thurso, Scotland
354. Wick, Scotland
355. Witzenhausen, Germany
356. Heidelberg, Germany
357. Eberbach, Germany
358. Heilbronn, Germany
359. Calw, Germany
360. Nagold, Germany
361. Freudenstadt, Germany
362. Wolfach, Germany
363. Hausach, Germany
364. Triberg (im Schwarzwald), Germany
365. Offenburg, Germany
366. Waldkirch, Germany
367. Duderstadt, Germany
368. Northeim, Germany
369. Hann. Munden, Germany
370. Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany
371. Osterode (am Harz), Germany
372. Ystad, Sweden
373. Kristianstad, Sweden
374. Eksjö, Sweden
375. Borås, Sweden
376. Lysekil, Sweden
377. Invergordon, Scotland
378. Bremen, Germany
379. Delmenhorst, Germany
380. Eberswalde, Germany
381. Nienburg (an der Weser), Germany
382. Verden (an der Aller), Germany
383. Bamberg, Germany
384. Alness, Scotland
385. Fort Augustus, Scotland
386. Oban, Scotland
387. Milngavie, Scotland

Towns that didn’t quite made the list because I only busked a few minutes – Dole, (France), Dresden (Germany), Girona (Spain/Catalonia), St Gilles (France)