A free music session each lunchtime features acts from Colombia, Brazil and Ghana as well as homegrown talent. The festival goes out with a bang on September 17 with an illuminated night-time river parade, lantern procession and fireworks. Aside from the market, Spitalfields is also the home of the Old Spitalfields festival, a summer-long event with lunchtime and evening concerts, theatre, art exhibitions and events. Those concerts that aren't free are relayed live to the market area for the hard-up. Try the Cosmic Comedy Club, which plays host to new and upcoming acts.
Entrance is free on selected evenings.
Both the BBC and a number of independent production companies provide free tickets to recordings of their comedy shows. But the best bet if you want to see big name acts for free is to keep an eye on the major London record shops. Artists often play short sets to promote new releases. The gigs may be followed by record signings, media interviews and photographs. Metro, London's only morning newspaper, is available from tube and rail stations, not to mention stuffed in every litter bin, blowing along the street and on the seats of underground trains all day.