We Shall Overcome has now organised more than 550 gigs in 140-plus towns and cities in nine different countries across three continents. We have raised an estimated £225,000 worth of food, cash, clothing and bedding for those struggling at the sharp end of austerity under the politics of despair; but more importantly we have brought people together all over the world in the spirit of community and solidarity forging bonds that will last a lifetime.

We did that. Together. ALL of us.

Our incredible extended week of events for #WSO2016 may have come to an end, but there’s still plenty to get involved with as we move into the worst of the winter.

We Shall Overcome is going to be active throughout up to and including the festive period helping where we can. On December 10th, following an idea by Jamie Bramwell, we are calling for WSO musicians all over the UK to join in our #Busk4TheHomeless campaign. Originally done as part of the main event and organised by GJ Armstrong in Ashton-under-Lyne, busking for the homeless has caught on in a few places and we currently have pledges in Liverpool, Ashton, Nottingham and Scarborough with more in the pipeline. If you can add your town to this fantastic campaign then please contact us and we’ll make sure the world knows about it.

Just remember to wrap up warm.

Speaking of wrapping up warm, Pauline Town is running the second of her incredible #SponsoredRoughSleep outside The Station pub in Ashton-under-Lyne on Saturday December 3rd. This will be the last of yet another incredible run of events the details of which can be found on this link:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1812544058967817/

and once again, we ALL salute the tireless work of our Big Sis as she sets about saving the world one life at a time with such passion and fearless dedication. We love her to bits.

The final gig of our #WSO2016 run is a CHRISTMAS PARTY at Chesterfield Labour Club organised by Chris Parsons and featuring the brilliant Steve White & The Protest Family which promises to be a proper knees-up to finish our campaigning for another year….and word has it this will be the northern leg of their album launch. I’m pretty sure chaos and mayhem may just be the start of an absolute cracker.

…and DON’T FORGET! I have a single released on Monday 28th November called ‘Merry Christmas From Hatfield Main’ recorded by myself and a choir of former miners and their families under the name Joe Solo and the Hatfield Brigade. All money raised goes to WSO causes so please download and let’s take both #WSO2016 and the miners to #XmasNo1. It will be available on all the usual sites- Amazon, i-Tunes, Spotify etc. The video is here:

Next year we step it up and we march on. We march on until there is no longer any need to feed and clothe and house our poorest and most vulnerable, because the politics which creates this injustice has been consigned to the dustbin of history once and for all.

#WSO2017?

Bring it on.