Remember When: Tune in to Capital's buskers

Busker 'Bus Car Willie' playing the rubber bagpipes at The Mound in Edinburgh, July 1986.

But the city’s buskers are facing growing criticism after a prominent critic and former museum boss threatened to quit his Grassmarket home of 30 years if the council don’t act over “nuisance” performers.

Julian Spalding, ex-director of Glasgow Museums, is due to meet with the city’s licensing leader next week to discuss his proposals to crack down on street musicians.

He has submitted proposals arguing for buskers to be licensed and suggesting some street musicians could even be auditioned if they want to play “designated sites” – as currently happens in London’s Tube system and the Paris Metro.

A busker plays the banjo for a long queue of people waiting to see the Gold of the Pharaohs exhibition at the City Art Centre in February 1988.

However, as our pictures show, buskers are often welcomed and appreciated.

Bus Car Willie was pictured on The Mound in July 1986 entertaining some happy children with his rubber bagpipes.

Stuart and Simon provided a musical background as train passengers emerged from Waverley station that same month.

Crowds queuing for the Gold of the Pharoahs exhibition at the City Art Centre in February 1988 were treated to a banjo-playing busker.

And a dog-owning busker with a zither was drawing attention in Princes Street in September that year.