Buskers Raises Money for The Matthew Project

18 hours ago
2 min read

We are thrilled to share the story of the brilliant local busking group who have raised over £300 for our services at The Matthew Project.

TATS, short for Tatsters, is a fantastic busking group based in Norwich that play instrumental music at a variety of venues and public spaces in the city.

Read on to learn more about their activities and contribution.

A group of people of all ages pose with their instruments in front of the Waterloo Pavilion, a grand building with tall pillars that houses The Feed Cafe in the background.

Who Are The Tatsters?

TATS stands for Traditional Acoustic Tunes Session. The group has existed for over six years in multiple formats, including Zoom meetings during the pandemic.

Their music repertoire consists of an eclectic mix of international folk and popular tunes. Currently, monthly practice sessions for the 38 members are held in the Waterloo Park Pavilion.

TATS play a wide range of musical instruments including whistles, melodeons, concertinas, fiddles and cello. Playing for fun and the enjoyment of companionship, most members are aged over 55 years old, some are retired or unemployed, and many live on their own.

Where Can You See TATS Perform?

On the first Saturday of each month, some group members meet to busk for charity (beside the Blackfriars Bridge, 12pm start). This has proven to be very popular with passers-by, raising £315 for The Matthew Project so far!

TATS also perform for the annual Waterloo Park Heritage Open Day on the roof terrace of the Pavilion.

Other performances include park bandstands, street parties, residential and nursing settings, and Christmas celebrations.

Beginner Folk Music Sessions

In January 2025, TATS started monthly folk music play sessions on Sunday nights, hosted by the Gibraltar Gardens Public House on Heigham Street.

Called the “Shallow End” sessions, they are designed to help players who are not yet confident enough to jump into the “deep end” and cope with the speed and complexity of other pub sessions. These are well-attended and good fun for all involved.

TATS shared:

We are pleased to support The Matthew Project and hope to increase our financial contribution to the valuable services provided by the charity through our future busking activities.

Interested in Taking Part? Raise Money for The Matthew Project Today!

If you want to get involved and help raise money for our vital work, please contact [email protected] for more information.

Or if you have another idea for fundraising with your local community, visit our group fundraising page here.