May 25th Bank Holiday at the Wagon and Horses, Digbeth, Birmingham. Hard hitting political songs from David Rovics & Attila the Stockbroker. A variety of food and stalls in the garden from 6pm with performances following and DJs later in the evening. £6 in. Fundraiser for the West Midlands Industrial Workers of the World, the fighting union!
Attila first heard about David Rovics about eight years ago and immediately got in touch: they did a UK tour in May 2002 and went
down so well (with the audiences and each other!) that they’ve done lots together since. On the surface their styles are very different – David’s a superficially gentle American singer-songwriter in the tradition of Phil Ochs and Woody Guthrie, Attila a loud, wild, punk rock performance poet/songwriter in the tradition of Hilaire Belloc and Joe Strummer! But their message is the same: their words breathefire at the bastards who are destroying our world, against the warmongers’ axis, against globalisation, fascism and gormless TV consumer ‘celebrity’ culture. The exact opposite of the mainstream idea of an Anglo-American alliance! Not long ago Damon All Bran of Blur posed the question; where are the protest singers?
Here they are!
David Rovics is an IWW member, has been called the musical voice of the progressive movement in the US, sharing the stage with activists, musicians, and celebrities alike, and has defied the record industry by making all his releases available on the internet for free. More importantly, he’s really good. He will make you laugh, he will make you cry, and he will make the revolution irresistible.
Attila the Stockbroker’s themes are topical, his words hard-hitting, his politics unashamedly radical, but Attila will make you roar with laughter as well as seethe with anger. Inspired by the spirit and ‘Do It Yourself’ ethos of punk rock, and above all by The Clash and their overtly radical, political stance.