Big Beach Busk at Portobello

The Big Beach Busk is happening at Portobello Beach

The Big Beach Busk grew from a small idea by local residents.

Paul Lambie was sitting with friends on Portobello Beach at the beginning of the summer bemoaning the lack of musical events in the town.

Fast forward three months and Paul is now the organiser of Portobello's first Big Beach Busk on 28 August.

After a lot of social networking by Paul and friends, more than 140 buskers and street performers have signed up for the event.

Musicians are welcome to sign up for the Big Beach Busk

The success of the event was partly due to Paul's determination to host the event and also the setting up of a Facebook page which attracted many followers and musicians eager to take part.

Paul said: "We're approaching 900 members on our Facebook group, with 140 or so Buskers signed up.

"We've had all kinds of musicians get in touch. Accordion players, brass bands and drummers as well as guitar players and singer-songwriters.

"We've a contact juggler, a poet and a pop-up (maybe musical) tennis coach. We've had responses from London, Lille, Glasgow and Falkirk."

The Big Beach Busk kicks off at 1030 BST.

Children and adults can help local arts group Big Things on the Beach decorate Portobello Promenade in preparation for the buskers who start the musical merriment at 1200 BST. The event is expected to finish at 1800 BST.