May 25th Bank Holiday at the Wagon and Horses, Digbeth, Birmingham.
FlierHard 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 breathe
fire 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.