Undoubtedly, June’s highlight was the trip Joe Gibbins and I made to Catalunya to remember Hull‘s ten International Brigade volunteers at Solidarity Park Festival in Malgrat-de-Mar. I have covered this pilgrimage in my ‘A Homage To Catalunya’ blog, which you can read here:
….but suffice to say, it was life-changing, and a journey we plan to repeat, hopefully bringing the history of those heroes to life and remembering them to the land they fought, and died, to defend from fascism.
After that excitement, June was a roller coaster ride of emotions as I tried not to crash after such a high. Luckily, there wasn’t too much time to dwell, as I had to prepare for a lecture and set at Hebden Bridge Folk Roots Festival the weekend after. The lecture took in the role of Folk music in recalling Working Class history and using that in order to inform the present and change the course of the future, the very essence of what Solidarity Park is trying to achieve in Catalunya. Granted I may have quoted sources as varied as Marx & Engels, Antonio Gramsci, and Sir Isaac Newton, but in essence, the message was the same.
Next followed two fundraisers in Hull, at Union Mash-Up and the Adelphi, for the Unity Shop and Refugee Support, respectively. Both were midweek shows, but there was fantastic support nonetheless, a a good few quid raised for the causes.
They sandwiched my first march with the Hatfield Brigade this year, as we provided the obligatory mischief and mayhem at the annual Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign Mass Rally in Sheffield. It was so good to have a day out with my favourite gang of reprobates and the speeches, capped off by a vintage performance from the mighty John Dunn, were universally superb.
And I’m always proud to be handed left pole duties on the Hatfield Main banner…..when it eventually works……
I made a couple of detours to remember the sacrifice of ordinary people around the region too. First up, the Stockton-on-Tees International Brigade memorial, a stunning piece of work centered around Picasso’s ‘Guernica’…..
Followed by a trip to pay my respects at the Horden Colliery memorial, which stands as a telling reminder of the industrial genocide carried out by governments past.
And I FINALLY got to see Rancid. 28 years a fan, and never able to get to a gig prior to now. It was every mad punk rock thing I’d ever imagined, and I loved every second.
With a couple of weekends off the gigs, I started work on the next album. With some studio time booked for August, I set about recording demos of the proposed ten tracks and sending them out to potential collaborators to see what magic we can make. These are the first steps on a very long journey, but I’m so happy to have taken them and to be working my way towards a new record again. Watch this space…..
And don’t forget to watch and share the incredible animated lyric video for ‘These Are My People’, which was released on June 4th. You can find this and 30-plus years of my songs on all streaming platforms, and it would be fantastic if you can hook up with me on your service of choice.
Right. July brings Durham Miner’s Gala, Get Off Your Arse! Festival opening for Mark Thomas, Pauline‘s birthday gig at The Station, Black Country Folk Festival, and whatever other mischief can be squeezed out of the next four weeks.
See you out there!
Joe Solo 