Keane’s Tom Chaplin busks for The Big Issue in London, Birmingham & Glasgow

Tom Chaplin – the chart-topping songwriter best known as the frontman of Keane – hit the streets of Britain over the weekend to treat fans to a series of busks with The Big Issue.

The Somewhere Only We Know singer performed three stripped-back sets at London’s Borough Market on Saturday – which you can watch in full, above – where he was also joined by the fantastic Choir With No Name, before rolling on to St Philip’s Cathedral in Birmingham on Sunday and Glasgow’s bustling Buchanan Street on Monday.

As well as treating hundreds of fans to some multi-million selling Keane favourites, Chaplin also performed his favourite Christmas dittys (including a cover of East 17’s festive juggernaut Stay Another Day) and songs from his debut solo festive album, Twelve Tales of Christmas (out now!).

“If you see a Big Issue seller, please buy a copy. Every week, for the rest of your life,” Chaplin told the 200+ crowd inside London’s Christmas-tastic Borough Market on Saturday. Sound advice.

He added: “I live in London and spend a lot of time in the city, and with it being such a freezing cold winter and still seeing homeless people on our streets, it seemed right to do this.

“The turnout was fantastic. It was really nice because there were the more dedicated fans who got down for the start, but then more and more people turned up and the numbers began to swell.

With it being such a freezing cold winter and still seeing people on our streets, it seemed right to do this

“This is a time of year when we’re all buying lots of stuff, we’re in this mode of celebration and hooking up with family, but for many people the reality of Christmas is obviously very different.

“It’s important to stop and reflect how it might be different for other people at this time of year, and  how supporting initiatives such as The Big Issue is a very important thing to do.”

Day one of the #BigIssueBusk in Borough Market, London! Huge thanks to @ChoirwithNoName for singing a couple of songs with me & to everyone who came to watch. The full video of today's busk is over on my facebook page. Birmingham, St Philip's Cathedral tomorrow. 1pm. Can't wait! pic.twitter.com/NYa2bGgHTA

— ✨Tom Chaplin (@tomchaplin) December 2, 2017

Thanks to everyone who came along to a #BigIssueBusk over the past few days.

And a massive thanks to the wonderful @tomchaplin for hitting the road (and all the right notes) for The Big Issue. Here he is with vendor Danny. ☃️???????????? pic.twitter.com/HmyW7cqG4r

— The Big Issue (@BigIssue) December 4, 2017

Judging by social media, fans were are as delighted with the #BigIssueBusk gigs as we were. Here are some of your responses from London…

Felt very lucky to see @TomChaplin perform at Borough Market for his Big Issue Busk session. As ever, his singing was flawless. A perfect festive treat for the first weekend in December ????#tomchaplin#twelvetalesofchristmas#boroughmarket#bigissuebuskpic.twitter.com/mOt8RN7URc

— Matthew Poad (@matthew_poad) December 4, 2017

@tomchaplin@BigIssue@ChoirwithNoName Thank you for the wonderful music ????I think you all need a warm drink now ❄️ #BigIssueBusk#ttoc#twelvetalesofchristmas ✨ pic.twitter.com/eEkzwNX7ig

— ✨Debby Van Hees (@DebbyVH) December 2, 2017

Just wow! An incredible day rehearsing and performing with @tomchaplin for the #BigIssueBusk– thank you to all! pic.twitter.com/yqJugCGGRk

— Choir with No Name (@ChoirwithNoName) December 2, 2017

A couple of pics from the #TomChaplin#BigIssueBusk in London yesterday @borrowmarket ❤️????❤️???? pic.twitter.com/ewVutBr431

— Marisa (@Iris_287) December 3, 2017

From Birmingham…

#BigIssueBusk@tomchaplinhttps://t.co/ZyUfuBQT1M

— ✨Karen ✨ (@he4vensent1) December 3, 2017

Thank you @tomchaplin. That was quite lovely. #BigIssueBusk Birmingham. pic.twitter.com/myNMqngJg8

— ✨Karen ✨ (@he4vensent1) December 3, 2017

Amazing to catch @tomchaplin in Birmingham for #BigIssueBusk! Such a beautiful set #ChristmasinBham ❄️???? pic.twitter.com/x82SAQAUAN

— Becky Weaver (@becky2293) December 3, 2017

@tomchaplin thanks to Tom whose light was shining bright in bham for #BigIssueBusk Your generosity is an inspiration & lesson to us all to give back to society Brilliant concert thank you!

— Melanie Wood (@melaniekwood) December 3, 2017

Festive vibes with @tomchaplin@IAmBeauHolland@TobieTripp & Seb…and a couple of rogue seagulls.. #BigIssueBuskpic.twitter.com/zIaIpLc8zP

— ✨Jo Starkey (@Jolouise25) December 3, 2017

And finally, from Glasgow…

The buskers in Glasgow are usually pretty decent but I didn't expect to see @tomchaplin on Buchanan Street today . Going back to work in a much better mood! #BigIssueBusk

— Neil Robertson (@NeilRobertson10) December 4, 2017

Had a blast at the @BigIssue#bigissuebusk watching @tomchaplin Can’t wait for the Manchester show on Sunday! pic.twitter.com/fnIYsGyF4i

— Gordo ????✨ (@Gordyjs_97) December 4, 2017

Keane’s Tom Chaplin busking on Glasgow’s Buchanan St today #Christmas#songpic.twitter.com/7S0WpbxGk1

— John Dingwall (@johndingwall) December 4, 2017

Big crowd outside #allsaints#glasgow#buchananstreet. @tomchaplin from #Keane sings really well! #glasgowlive#onceinawhile#outstandingpic.twitter.com/gY8pVtDDgK

— Thierry Lye (@LyeThierry) December 4, 2017

So cool seeing Tom Chaplin busking for The Big Issue on Buchanan Street in Glasgow today. 😀 pic.twitter.com/ReeAkmyFaG

— Lorna Stallard (@lornastallard) December 4, 2017

Great busking for the @BigIssue today at Buchanan Street. Well done @tomchaplin#buskforthebigissue#Glasgow

— Craig Barrass (@craigbarrass1) December 4, 2017

First @wembleystadium then @TheSSEHydro and now busking in Buchanan Street, Glasgow. Outstanding set from @tomchaplinpic.twitter.com/IMy6fRnELU

— Ian Pope (@ianapope) December 4, 2017

Not everyday you walk out an #economics exam and find @tomchaplin from @keaneofficial performing on #BuchananStreet in #Glasgow. Part of the @BigIssue gigs… pic.twitter.com/Yf3uv0Fgxw

— Rob Murray (@robmurray11) December 4, 2017