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I am currently so busy developing and delivering workshops, as well as working with the Janey Buchan Political Song Collection and the Alistair Hulett Memorial Trust, that I am not able to add current content to the news blog.

Huge Support for Pussy Riot

August 15th, 2012 | Posted by John Powles in Europe | Pussy Riot | World News - (0 Comments)

Support from musicians and singers, as well as from the media and campaigning organisations, for the 3 members of the radical Russian punk group Pussy Riot , imprisoned for daring to protest against Putin’s suppression of freedom of speech and expression. Pussy Riot have been in the news for some months, as reflected on this blog for example – see Pussy Riot Held in Prison and Pussy Riot Song Protest in Red Square.

The three members of the group now on trial (a trial compared by many commentators to the infamous show trials of the Soviet period) face a verdict on Friday 17th August; a global day of protest is being planned for that day, including at 11:00 (an hour before the verdict is delivered) a reading at the Royal Court in London of the testimonies of the three women. Throughout the trial support for the three, and outrage against their persecution, has grown considerably. For example, a letter in the London Times on the 2nd August from performers including Jarvis Cocker, Johnny Marr, Martha Wainwright, Neil Tennant, Pete Townsend, Kate Nash and Corinne Bailey amongst others, expressed concern for the way the members of the group are being treated, and stated that “Dissent is a right in any democracy … .We believe firmly that it is the role of the artist to make legitimate political protest and fight for freedom of speech.” During recent concerts Madonna has joined in the protests, especially at her recent show in Moscow when she appeared on stage wearing a balaclava (as worn by members of Pussy Riot) and with Pussy Riot written on her back whilst telling the audience “I pray for their freedom.”

Amnesty International is writing to the Russian authorities demanding the release of the band members (to add your name text ACTION18 and your full name to 88080). The trial has even been reported in a lengthy feature on the BBC News at Ten on 14th August, although for most of the item the reference was to “a Russian punk group”, with the newsreader seemingly reluctant to actually state the name Pussy Riot!

Singing Resistance at Faslane Naval Base

August 9th, 2012 | Posted by John Powles in Anti Nuclear Weapons | Scotland - (0 Comments)

Trident Ploughshares are organising a three day protest at the Faslane Naval Base, home to Britain’s nuclear submarines. Recognising the power of song as a weapon of protest and resistance, the programme for the weekend is centred around songs and singing-related activities.

Information Poster

Pussy Riot Held in Prison

July 24th, 2012 | Posted by John Powles in Europe | Punk | Pussy Riot - (0 Comments)

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 3 members of Pussy Riot, the feminist punk band, will be held in prison until at least March 2013 whilst awaiting trial for performing an anti-Putin punk song in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Pussy Riot have been protesting for many months now against Putin’s crack down on freedom of expression in Russia – for example see my news blog item Pussy Riot Song Protest in Red Square. Their Cathedral protest performance has been condemned by the Orthodox Church, which is urging the government to take strong action against the women.

Springsteen Attacks Bankers in Berlin

June 5th, 2012 | Posted by John Powles in Anti Cuts & Financiers | Europe - (0 Comments)

Playing to a crowd of almost 60,000 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Bruce Springsteen spoke out against bankers and fat cats before singing Jack of All Trades from his album Wrecking Ball. Springsteen told the crowd “In America a lot of people have lost their jobs. But also in Europe and in Berlin, times are tough. This song is for all those who are struggling.” The lyrics include a scathing attack on bankers and speculators, but also a note of hope for the future:

The banker man grows fatter, the working man grows thin
It’s all happened before and it’ll happen again
It’ll happen again, they’ll bet your life
I’m a Jack of all trades and, darling, we’ll be alright

Now sometimes tomorrow comes soaked in treasure and blood
Here we stood the drought, now we’ll stand the flood
There’s a new world coming, I can see the light
I’m a Jack of all trades, we’ll be alright

Still Life: Tales from the West Bank Concert at Govanhill Baths

May 23rd, 2012 | Posted by John Powles in Alistair Hulett | UK News - (0 Comments)

The Alistair Hulett Memorial Trust is sponsoring a performance of Still Life: Tales from the West Bank, a 75 minute show performed by Karen Chalk and Penny Stone, based on their experiences as human rights observers with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) in the occupied Palestinian territories. The show will take place at Govanhill Baths, Glasgow on Saturday 9th June, doors open at 19:00. Entry is free, but there will be a collection, proceeds of which will go to EAPPI. Penny and Karen lived in the villages of Jayyous and Yanoun in the northern West Bank, witnessing and experiencing everyday life in the occupied Palestinian territories. The aim of the show is to enable people to engage with human stories of the occupation as well as learning more about the context. The show was originally devised for performance at the Edinburgh Festival Free Fringe 2011, where it played to a packed house nightly.

Sing Released for Jubilee

May 23rd, 2012 | Posted by John Powles in UK News - (0 Comments)

Giving Voice Workshops is committed to spreading an awareness of all varieties of political song and songs of social justice; so with that proviso and in that spirit, this news item covers Sing – a song created by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber to be the official Diamond Jubilee song. I am pleased to report that as mentioned in a previous news item, the Sex Pistols’ punk anthem version of God Save the Queen is being re-released at the end of May, and it will be interesting to see how Sing and the Pistols compare in terms of play time – although with the BBC and the establishment very much on board with Sing, it appears to be a fairly uneven contest!

Sing features vocals from Barlow, as well as contributions from a number of artists from the UK and various countries across the Caribbean, Africa, the Pacific Islands and Australasia (so plenty of hints of ex-“Empire”), together with The Military Wives, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Band … and Prince Harry on tambourine (although I’m not sure why)! The lyrics repeatedly berate the listener to do things like “Sing it louder, sing it clearer / Knowing everyone will hear you / Make some noise, find your voice tonight / Sing it stronger, sing together” whilst giving very little indication of just what it is we are supposed to be singing about – at least you know where you are with the Sex Pistols!

Sex Pistols, the Queen, and the Olympics

May 1st, 2012 | Posted by John Powles in Punk | Sex Pistols | UK News - (0 Comments)

The Sex Pistols have been in the news recently in connection with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, and the Olympic Games. Plans are underway to re-release the Pistols’ God Save the Queen, originally released in 1977 during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee events.

The song caused huge controversy, both for the defaced image of the Queen on the cover, and for its lyrics, which include “God Save the Queen / A fascist regime”; despite a ban by the BBC, the record managed to get to number two in the charts. This time round the song is likely to be up against a special Jubillee song of celebration written by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and pop singer Gary Barlow, do to be released at the end of May; perhaps this time the Pistols will get to number one!

The Sex Pistols are also in the news after they declined to take part in the Olympic ceremonies, along with various other acts. The Olympic authorities wanted to censor Pretty Vacant by not allowing Johnny Rotten to sing the word “vacant” with his usual slight variation on the final syllable!

Bob Dylan Awarded Medal of Freedom

April 30th, 2012 | Posted by John Powles in Bob Dylan | North America - (0 Comments)

Bob Dylan has been awarded The Medal of Freedom, the USA’s highest civilian honour; he will receive the award from President Obama in a few weeks time. The White House statement announcing the awards says

Bob Dylan. One of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century, Dylan released his first album in 1962.  Known for his rich and poetic lyrics, his work had considerable influence on the civil rights movement of the 1960s and has had significant impact on American culture over the past five decades. He has won 11 Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award.  He was named a Commandeur dans l’Ordre des Art et des Lettres and has received a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation.  Dylan was awarded the 2009 National Medal of Arts.  He has written more than 600 songs, and his songs have been recorded more than 3,000 times by other artists.  He continues recording and touring around the world today.

Toni Morrison will also receive the Medal of Freedom at the same ceremony. So … from Chimes of Freedom in 1964 (with its bells “Tolling for the rebel, tolling for the rake / Tolling for the luckless, the abandoned an’ forsaked / Tolling for the outcast, burnin’ constantly at stake” and “for the aching whose wounds cannot be nursed / For the countless confused, accused, misused, strung-out ones an’ worse” to, from the American government’s Medal of Freedom in 1912 … there’s a thesis waiting to be written about that! Chimes of Feedom has been covered by many singers, including a powerful version from Bruce Springsteen.

Song Protest in Defiance of Breivik

April 29th, 2012 | Posted by John Powles in Europe - (0 Comments)

Crowds of many thousands flocked to Norwegian city centres on Thursday 26th April to protest against mass murderer and extreme right wing fanatic Anders Breivik and everything he adheres to. The main vehicle of their demonstration was song. In Oslo Norwegian artist Lillebjoern Nilsen led an estimated crowd of 40,000 in singing the 1970s peace song Children of the Revolution;

the song is based on Pete Seeger’s My Rainbow Race;

Janey Buchan Memorial Event Images

April 23rd, 2012 | Posted by John Powles in Janey Buchan Political Song Collection | UK News - (0 Comments)

Following a very successful and enjoyable event on the 13th April at Partick Burgh Hall to celebrate the life of Janey Buchan, Edwin Moore has put some images of the event on his Blog, including some of the display about the Janey Buchan Political Song Collection, curated by me at the School of Culture and Creative Arts, University of Glasgow. To check out Ian’s piece, go to his blog at
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/remembering-janey-buchan.html

Please note – There will more news about the Collection, and accessing lists of materials held, over the next few weeks.