Rock 'n' rail gigs give new platform

The busy St Pancras International train station in London provides a ready made audience. Photo / Bloomberg

The Guillemots are mid-song when the announcement that the 7.02pm Eurostar to Paris is boarding somewhat thins their audience.

But that's one of the hazards for bands who are bringing "rush hour rock" to harassed commuters at one of Europe's busiest train platforms.

St Pancras International has become music's latest "pop-up" music venue, with a daily selection of leading artists performing at four stages at the home of the Eurostar.

For bands such as the Guillemots, facing a music industry scarred by a declining CD business and a drop in live ticket sales, it's a golden opportunity to perform for more potential fans than they might reach at a summer of festival appearances.

Up to one million people travel through the revamped St Pancras concourse each week.

The Station Sessions series of daily concerts, held at lunchtimes and during the 6pm-7pm rush hour, returns the tradition of musical performances to the famous Victorian station.

St Pancras was a key departure point for soldiers heading off to World War II and brass bands would give the troops a motivational send-off as they waved goodbye to their loved ones.

The romantic possibilities of St Pancras, with its platform champagne bar for courting couples, is one of the reasons British singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot has signed up to perform during rush hour.

"Extraordinary things happen at stations. People can find themselves a long way from home. I sometimes go to Kings Cross with my baby just to sit and observe people."

Pallot, whose Year Of The Wolf album is hovering just outside the Top 10, believes musicians must seize any chance to lure new fans, even if it means performing a glorified busking session.

"It's a great idea. I don't know why there aren't more public spaces opened for live music in this country [the United Kingdom] like there are in Europe."

St Pancras is working with the Prince's Trust on the concerts, which will also give young performers a chance to play with established names.

Live music, seen as the saviour of the music industry after piracy began to cut down physical CD sales, is now struggling, with box-office takings falling 12 per cent for the top tours in 2010. Rising ticket prices are blamed, and that encouraged the Guillemots to stage more free gigs.

Finishing their hit single Trains To Brazil to a crowd of 200 well-wishers, champagne-bar sippers and curious commuters, singer Fyfe Dangerfield thanked the audience and wished them a safe journey.

- INDEPENDENT