Charlie Cavey is possibly the country’s only busker who doesn’t mind being called a rubbish act. Under the name The Singing Binman, he has been a musical presence inside a ‘traditional’ Cambridge trash can for more than 25 years. He cottoned on to the idea after seeing a bin being unloaded into a municipal truck before a friend managed to help him squeeze into a similar receptacle with his guitar.
Image Credit: Metro [Mandatory Credit: Photo by Geoffrey Robinson/REX/Shutterstock (918912i) Charlie Cavey in his bin Charlie Cavey Who Busks in a Bin in Cambridge as Part of the City's Busking Festival, Britain - 05 May 2009 Busker Charlie Cavey may sing in a BIN but his music is anything but RUBBISH. The 30-year-old singer plays his guitar whilst squeezed inside a tiny metal litter bin. At 5ft 9 he finds his job cramped and smelly but his stinky singing style is proving a huge hit with passers-by. Now the busker is set to perform his own form of TRASH metal at a busking festival.]
The trick is made possible by poking the neck of the instrument through the slot of his grimy metal workplace in busy Trumpington Street, which lies in the city centre. The 5ft 9in street performer’s fame has spread far beyond the streets of Cambridge, with his biggest stage to date being an audition for ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent in 2002.
Image Credit: Metro [Mandatory Credit: Photo by Geoffrey Robinson/REX/Shutterstock (1202508h) Charlie Cavey busking in a bin with guard dog Obi Busker who sings in a bin has guard dog to protect his takings, Cambridge, Britain - 29 Jun 2010 A busker who sings in a bin has bought a guard dog to protect his takings. Charlie Cavey plays his own form of trash metal on his guitar whilst squeezed inside a tiny metal litter bin. At 5ft 9 he finds his job cramped and smelly but his stinky singing style is proving a huge hit with passers-by. The only problem is the 31-year-old can't keep an eye on his money from inside the bin so he has employed eight-year-old Obi the Jack Russell to stand guard. "I have had problems with people taking money as they don't always realise I am in the bin and it looks like free cash," he said. "It's quite a struggle to keep getting in and out of the bin so now I bring Obi with me. "He is really good and just stands on top of the bin and watches people going by. "He knows I am inside the bin so he's not worried and he doesn't try to run away."]
After being wheeled onto stage by two crew members, he gave a rendition of Monty Python’s ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.’. He had the audience singing along but was buzzed off by Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell and David Walliams after less than two minutes.
Image Credit: Metro [Charlie Cavey, Cambridge's famous Bin Busker, auditioned for Britain's Got Talent (Image: Syco/Thames/ITV)]
The 38-year-old has also been requested for weddings and welcomed British celebrities including Sir Bob Geldof, Carol Vorderman, Gregory Porter and Jim Broadbent to his acoustic pitch. On a visit to Cambridge in August 2020, Tyson Fury joined the busker for a rendition of Oasis hit ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger.’.
Image Credit: Metro [Tyson Fury with Charlie Cavey, The Singing Bin Man (Image: Charlie Cavey/The Singing Bin Man)]
At the time, Charlie told how he was having a break when he was approached by the ‘giant’ boxer, who ‘partially blotted out the sky.’. Fury, 36, left a tip and said thanks after Charlie agreed to his request — extending a farewell hand which ‘wrapped around my hand twice.’.
Image Credit: Metro [Mandatory Credit: Photo by Geoffrey Robinson/REX/Shutterstock (1202508d) Charlie Cavey with guard dog Obi Busker who sings in a bin has guard dog to protect his takings, Cambridge, Britain - 29 Jun 2010 A busker who sings in a bin has bought a guard dog to protect his takings. Charlie Cavey plays his own form of trash metal on his guitar whilst squeezed inside a tiny metal litter bin. At 5ft 9 he finds his job cramped and smelly but his stinky singing style is proving a huge hit with passers-by. The only problem is the 31-year-old can't keep an eye on his money from inside the bin so he has employed eight-year-old Obi the Jack Russell to stand guard. "I have had problems with people taking money as they don't always realise I am in the bin and it looks like free cash," he said. "It's quite a struggle to keep getting in and out of the bin so now I bring Obi with me. "He is really good and just stands on top of the bin and watches people going by. "He knows I am inside the bin so he's not worried and he doesn't try to run away."]
![[Mandatory Credit: Photo by Geoffrey Robinson/REX/Shutterstock (918912i) Charlie Cavey in his bin Charlie Cavey Who Busks in a Bin in Cambridge as Part of the City's Busking Festival, Britain - 05 May 2009 Busker Charlie Cavey may sing in a BIN but his music is anything but RUBBISH. The 30-year-old singer plays his guitar whilst squeezed inside a tiny metal litter bin. At 5ft 9 he finds his job cramped and smelly but his stinky singing style is proving a huge hit with passers-by. Now the busker is set to perform his own form of TRASH metal at a busking festival.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234259640-f5e0.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[Charlie Cavey, Cambridge's famous Bin Busker, auditioned for Britain's Got Talent (Image: Syco/Thames/ITV)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234259675-8de0.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[Tyson Fury with Charlie Cavey, The Singing Bin Man (Image: Charlie Cavey/The Singing Bin Man)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1_image0-4jpeg-b598-e1735225427313.webp?w=646)
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