Street music, parades and one-off shop events will pop up across Waltham Forest this year.

High Streets across the borough will be flooded with sound as part of a  high new project to turn communal areas into public stages.

The Streets, music and event producer, Serious, has been given funding to arrange performances in six London boroughs, including Waltham Forest.

At a launch event in Leyton Mills on Friday (July 10) Australian percussion star Ben Walsh wowed residents by playing his spectacular Drum Wheel – created from recycled material.

He was joined by The Crusty Suitcase Band, with whom he is currently in residence at London Wonderground on the Southbank, and jazz musician and percussionist Muntu Valdo from Cameroon.

Two steel pan groups from local schools and street performers also helped to create a festival feel.

In the months ahead, Serious will help organise mass percussion events, twilight takeovers in empty shops and musical performances in cafés, bars, corner shops and markets across the six London boroughs.

Ben Walsh said: “To all the people with a small idea in a big city which seems too difficult....just go for it people, just dive into the deep end, into that creative pool.”

The council will encourage home-grown talent to get involved.

The other boroughs taking part in The Streets are Redbridge, Croydon, Wandsworth, Richmond and Kingston-upon-Thames.

To keep track of what’s being planned as part of The Streets and for more information visit www.thestreets.london.