Milton Keynes residents launch a 'drive by disco' to spread cheer, and the response is overwhelming

    On Saturday (21/3), Gareth and Joe took to the streets of Newport Pagnell in a convertible to sing and play music to people in their houses. Hundreds of thousands of people have seen the videos, but how did it all start?

    "I was sat at home and the idea popped into my mind," said Joe Scripps, who is a London street performer. "The streets were getting quieter, so I thought to myself, what can I do? If people aren't coming to the streets then I'm going to take street performance to them."

    Joe, already well-equipped with a vision and the necessary equipment, was ready to go. He wanted to launch a drive by disco here in Milton Keynes, but first, he needed a driver. 

    Gareth, Joe's friend, volunteered to drive. Another one of Joe's friends let them borrow their white convertible. It was all falling into place.

    Joe had initially planned to play Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Monty Python on repeat, but after a change of heart, he decided to open it up to the public for song requests.

    After posting about the drive by disco on Facebook, hundreds of song requests poured in, along with hundreds of requests to visit different streets across the city. 

    On Saturday, Gareth and Joe spent five hours driving through the streets of Newport Pagnell, with Joe performing and playing the music that people had asked for. "We visited around 40 to 50 streets," Joe added. "So many people were dancing from their windows, and in the streets."

    "The longer we did it for, the more people we had waiting for us. People ended up following us round in their cars like our own little fan base."

    One request that stood out to Joe and Gareth came from a local care home called Westbury Grange. A staff member asked if the drive by disco could pass through and play Que Sera Sera by Doris Day.

    "When playing the song I saw the residents dancing behind the windows. Both they and the care workers had so much joy. Gareth had videoed the whole thing, and once we drove off we had to stop the car for a while. It really got to him."

    The video in question has since reached hundreds of thousands of people online, many of which have commended Joe and Gareth for spreading kindness. 

    "The last street we went down was Salmons Yard," Joe added. "By the time we got there the news had spread. People were wandering into the street to listen, but people were staying well apart. There was a safe distance between everyone. It was great to see people come outside of their houses and see neighbours that they hadn't seen in days."

    "We've had so many people thank us. I've even had messages from Las Vegas and California. It's nuts, but it's great to shed a bit of light."

    Joe, who grew up in Newport Pagnell, is now taking to the streets of Oxley Park and surrounding areas for the next drive by disco. It will take place between 4:30pm and 7pm tonight. 

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