Panel: The Politicisation of Music
12.45-1.45pm

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Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, MC5, Bob Dylan, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, X-Ray Specs, Billy Bragg, The Redskins, Dead Kennedys, Henry Rollins and hundreds of others. Popular music is littered with musicians for whom music and politics are intertwined.Whether this was reflected through their music or more by their vocal support for political causes, there has been an acceptance that this was one of the primary roles of musicians – to question and change society.

New Labour made a point of cozying up to musicians and ‘cool creatives’ with the promise of a changing British society for the better. As we now know, this was a false promise. As a result, certainly in Britain and arguably across the world, there has been a distinct lack of musicians actively singing about or getting involved in political issues.

Now facing years of Tory and Lib Dem rule will this change? Is it up to musicians to challenge and inspire political change? Does anyone give a damn anymore?

We believe people do. We believe that music is not all about being rich and famous or selling millions of records and making media conglomerates more money than is possibly needed. When commerce is the only consideration, we believe the cultural, social, intellectual and artistic life of the citizenry suffers.

2011 was a year of change across the world, from uprisings to riots to environmental disasters on a monumental scale. How have musicians responded to the changing social environment? Is it possible to be political with music? Is there an audience for politicised music? And what is the point in making music with these messages?

Panelists:

Jon McClure
Soweto Kinch
Steve Ignorant (Crass) (tbc)
Dizraeli
John Robb
Plus more tbc

Moderated by: Riz MC

Spoken word performance: Zia Ahmed

Venue: The Hub

£10 - all day ticket includes entry to all panels/workshops/performances - view full list of events here