‘guerilla gigs’ spread unity and anti-fascist message in london! report and photos
Campaigners from Unite Against Fascism, along with bands and MCs supporting Love Music Hate Racism and Unite staged a unique series of outdoor live events in London yesterday (Sunday 6 June).
With the LMHR London festival - both the outdoor Finsbury Park one and the replacement indoor Hammersmith Apollo show - having to be cancelled, everyone involved was determined that our voices of unity in opposition to the fascist BNP would not be silenced.
Enter the ‘Unite battle truck’ - a 7.5 ton lorry with booming sound system on the back.
Starting at original festival venue Finsbury Park, spirited sets from THE FADES and GRAVYRAMBLES (an indie ’supergroup’ comprising members of THE OTHERS, THE CRIBS and more) set the tone for the day. A crowd soon gathered, and a great carnival atmosphere took over the street at the entrance to the park, with cars tooting their horns, and local people enthusiastically taking 1000s of Unite leaflets about this Thursday’s elections, with loads of debates about the issues kicking off in the street.
Having started late, we sadly had to miss out Wood Green in favour of heading straight to Camden Town. Initially parking up opposite Camden tube station,
there was another great another great set from GRAVYRAMBLES including THE OTHERS’ classics ‘This is For the Poor’ and ‘Stan Bowles’
We then moved up the road to Camden Lock, where we were joined by ART BRUT who grabbed attention and a crowd with a set lead off by a raucous version of celebrated debut single ‘Formed a Band’. More people started taking the Unite leaflets to give out and again in Camden there was a great response to the anti-fascist message.
Brixton followed Camden, and then finally we made our way to Brick Lane in the East End where MILLION DAN, NAVIGATOR and DEMOLITION MAN roused the crowds thronging the bars and curry houses and coming down to see what was going on - getting everyone to raise their fist against racism, dropping some lyrical wisdom about voting against the BNP on Thursday, and performing current UK hip-hop/ragga stormer “Dogz n Sledgez” to huge applause.
Brick local OTHERS frontman Dominic then led GRAVYRAMBLES thru another passionate chaotic set, followed by another from ART BRUT - frontman shouter Eddie leaping off the truck in his suit and socks to urge people to use their vote to keep the BNP out on Thursday. Once again, thousands of Unite leaflets were given out.
Unite joint secretary Weyman Bennett kept the message going out loud and clear through the day, radio mic in hand, providing all the facts and arguments omn the fight against racism and fascism. A special thanks goes to Tony & Ronnie Gulley who drove the truck and kept the sound system and technical going all day long - big up.
