1 October in London: The Signal Was Spain

Mark Perryman of Philosophy Football writes…

‘The Signal Was Spain’: a night of protest music old and new for the International Brigades and Cable Street 80th anniversaries. In association with the RMT trade union and Thompsons Solicitors the event is in partnership with the IBMT, R2 magazine, the Hope not Hate campaign and Brigadista Ale.

The evening will be introduced by Mark Thomas  with historian Richard Baxell providing an illustrated talk to bring the historial period of Cable Street and the Spanish Civil War of '36 to life. Will Kaufman takes us back in time with his extraordinary performance of Woody Guthrie originals. 

Connecting past, present and future three of the very best in agit-rock. Post-punk singer-songwriter Louise Distras will be performing both solo and with full band. Miixing red-hot rhythms with ska and singalong anthems The Hurriers. And from Scotland The Wakes bring their unique mix of Celtic traditional music with all the angry harmonies of punk. 

Plus! Performing poetry and music specially commisioned to celebrate Cable Street and the International Brigades Potent Whisper and Lánre.

And! If you fancy making a day of it we have a choice of afternoon activities:

– a children and families event with Michael Rosen

– a seminar on the history and politics of Popular Fronts and Radical Populism

– a two-hour walk with David Rosenberg, historian of Cable Street, author of ‘Battle for the East End: Jewish Responses to Fascism in the 1930s’ and ‘Rebel Footprints: Uncovering London’s Radical History’, including sites associated with Mosley’s Blackshirts, the dramatic story of Cable Street and the East End’s support for the Spanish Republic and International Brigades.  

Advance booking essential, from www.philosophyfootball.com/cable-street-event.html

Posted 2 September 2016