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Fancy singing and playing music in a non-judgemental setting? Fancy enjoying a drink in a lovely pub whilst listening to a variety of musicians?

Fancy being given some playdough, pencils and paper and general art supplies to play with whilst you listen to great musicians? Fancy winning a top notch prize in The Busk Factor Art competition? (previous prizes have included a Michael Bolton cassette and a top video of a David Bowie concert in German)!

Maybe you stumbled across a blues version of an old Spandeu Ballet classic when you were experimenting with your guitar last week?

Maybe you've written some songs, you'd like to share?

Maybe you've heard that all musicians taking part get a party bag, and you'd like to get your hands on one.

The Busk Factor is run by The Dodd Family (literally, the whole family - my dad plays guitar and granny gets up and sings a few numbers too)! It usually runs once a month at The Halfway House, Barnes, and it's the most fun since sliced bread! In fact it's infinitely more fun than sliced bread! I never found sliced bread that funny.

So whilst you're fresh from your hangovers from our stupendous Halloween special - let's get straight on to thinking of the next occassion - Christmas!!

This will be our first Christmas Busk Factor since 2007 so we're very excited and it promises to be an event full of Christmas magic. There'll be arts and crafts, special festive party bags for everyone who performs in the open mic, AND Father Christmas himself will be popping in to give you gifts and cheer!*

Also, like in Christmas Busk Factor 2007 - there will be a Noddy Holder Competition for the person who can shout 'It's Christmas' best like Noddy!

Q: Who's this funny girl talking about Noddy Holder?

Who's Noddy Holder?** What's Busk factor? Are these my feet?

A: Well, Good person, Busk Factor is an open-mic night run by the Dodd Family. Arts and crafts are given out to all the punters so you can enjoy making and creating whilst listening to the acts, and there is an art competition where the winner gets a special prize (last time, it was an MC Hammer Cassette!) - also, everyone who performs gets a party bag, which on this occassion - will be filled with festive goodies!

So be sure not to miss it, due to our unpredictable schedule, who knows when the next Christmas Busk will be after this?! If you want a slot to perform please facebook me - Siobhan Dodd - or email thebuskfactor@hotmail.co.uk

*My first ever job at the age of 16 was as an elf (Barry the Elf in fact) at Santa's Grotto, Birdworld, Surrey. This means I have personal contacts in the North Pole and can 100% guarantee Santa's prescence and a hell of a lot of Christmas magic. **Shame on you if don't know who Noddy Holder is.