In 1955, as Little Richard tore up the norms of popular music with the opening ‘a wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-wop-bam-boom’ of Tutti Frutti, the Labour Party reissued its song book. Eschewing the musical revolution then making its way across the Atlantic, the party instead drew on the ‘old favourites’ Continue reading From Joe Hill to the Man Who Waters the Workers’ Beer: a Labour Party song book
Mike Mecham introduces a double CD of songs by Francis Devine, a published Irish labour historian, poet, singer and songwriter from Howth, County Dublin. A former President, and now Honorary President, of the Irish Labour History Society and editor of its journal Saothar, Francis Devine remains actively involved in the labour movement An Ownerless Corner of Earth is the second offering from Howth based singer Francis Devine. His first … Continue reading An Ownerless Corner of Earth: songs to lift the spirits
Red Wedge brought both music and the most cutting edge designs to Labour politics in the mid 1980s. Mark Crail looks at the badges coveted by a generation – and at the organisation that produced them. The platform was too small for the numerous politicians and musicians intent on making their presence felt in front of a battery of press cameras. But despite the crush, … Continue reading Red Wedge badges: from Constructivism to Neil Kinnock and the Style Council
he Working Class Movement Library offers an impressive and extensive series of talks, all of which are live-streamed and subsequently made available on its YouTube channel. Its autumn 2021 series of ‘Invisible Histories’ ranges from Thomas Spence to Jayaben Desai, and from the Social Democratic Federation to Militant Continue reading Great online events at the WCML for autumn 2021
This Sunday, 1 August, at 7pm, listeners to Radio 3 will be able to hear the noted Manchester actress Maxine Peake read The Masque of Anarchy in a performance that makes the poem resonate for a contemporary audience. Continue reading Maxine Peake and Jennifer Reid bring the culture shaped by Peterloo to life
The Workers Educational Association and the General Federation of Trade Unions are launching a series of online classes with leading experts in their fields on key components in working class history that have lasting impact. Continue reading Their legacy – our heritage: online classes in labour history from the WEA and GFTU
Dr Mike Sanders introduces the work of two Ashton-under-Lyne radical poets, and Jennifer Reid performs their work as ballads. Continue reading Ashton-under-Lyne’s radical poets brought to life by Mike Sanders and Jennifer Reid
Art and culture are inseparable from labour history, as a GFTU Educational Trust CD on the story of the River Thames from the Nore Mutiny to the Empire Windrush demonstrates, writes SSLH EC member Mike Sanders. Continue reading Celebrating labour history through the songs and music of the River Thames
Society for the Study of Labour History 