Newcastle busker stalked by fangirls

Guitars get you girls.

No where is this more true than Newcastle’s Northumberland street, musical playground to the North East’s home grown talent.

Home to a different busker almost every day, indie folk sensation Jake Houlsby cut his busking teeth on our legendary street.

Busking roots (pre-beard)

Now performing under successful recording alias Suntrapp, Jake took to the streets when he was 18 and has never looked back. Still performing in front of Marks and Spencer’s (the spot of spots for Newcastle buskers) between gigs in London and E.P. releases, his fan base have remained faithful to this day.

Faithful and female.

With his long hair and trademark hipster beard, Jake has fallen victim to the tween fan girl scene of Newcastle. Devoted weekend (and after school) watchers line up to post their love on social media – creepy as much as it is cute:

“I would never knock a fan’s loyalty. It’s a good thing when people take time to watch what we do, and photos just mean more exposure.”

Clearly the good-natured guitar player takes his teeny bopper fan base with a pinch of salt. And from a safe distance.

“It’s probably the same crowd of teenage girls most weekends. I’ll take a few photos because I like making people happy but there’s obviously nothing to it. I normally just get on with it and play my set.”

Sets that are taken VERY seriously by his loyal throng of fan girls. Most weekend busking sessions result in posts of sheer adoration, such as this:

…And this:

Travesty to many a 16-year-old’s fickle heart, Jake has a long term girlfriend who also takes the extreme fandom light-heartedly. Especially when comments like this litter his instagram account:

“I’ve seen some of the younger teenagers follow my friends or people I know just because I’m tagged in their photos. I suppose it’s that thing of anyone can find you anywhere on line, especially when I’m trying to put myself and my music out there.

“To be honest, it’s harmless and I know it’s the case for most buskers my age. The lad I live with busks most of the days I don’t and he’ll come home and tell me the same thing. It’s a good thing and like a bad thing I suppose.”

Establishing a new set of Claire’s Accessory advocates almost every summer (over the school holidays, ofc), fan-girldom of Newcastle isn’t a dying breed. Especially not with a dark hair, bright eyed, bearded metaphor of middle school crushes let loose to play music.

Because he’s worth it