*FESTIVAL*

“Above The Parapet Un-Convention: planting the seeds of rebellion and unconvention in Teesside”

Saturday 23rd June 2012

Westgarth Social Club, Southfield Road – £5 adv / £6 door

Robb Johnson, The Wilsons, Joe Solo, The Young Hegelians, Grace Petrie, Bob Beagrie and collaborations with The Black Light Engine Room and AJ Garrett & Co are among the confirmed highlights at Teesside’s new political song and spoken word festival featuring a blistering blend of political / topical songwriters, musicians, poets and writers, talks on politics and music alongside art and information stalls. The day promises to be an entertaining, thought-provoking and inspiring mix of fiery rhetoric, apt music and spoken word and information.

Taking place on Saturday 23rd June in Middlesbrough, Above The Parapet Un-Convention is an extended version of the monthly ‘Above The Parapet’ nights run by Shipyard Songwriters, which are a platform for songwriters, musicians, writers and poets to perform their own work, or other peoples work that has inspired them to write on the state of society, while bringing together the people of Teesside who have been hit and hit hard by the policies of successive governments. It is run in partnership with Salford-based Un-Convention (http://unconventionhub.org) who are a grass-roots organisation working with independent and underground music around the globe.

The illustrious performers confirmed include Robb Johnson who is one of the finest political songwriters in the UK. His mix of political satire and wit combines observation of the everyday working class life, with rage against the hidden and not-so-hidden injuries of capitalism, with a poetic glimpse of a post-capitalist world of justice and solidarity. The Wilson’s are Billingham’s finest purveyors of working and traditional topical song with their powerful 5 part harmonies and Joe Solo also returns to Teesside after a notorious show-down between audience and performer at April’s Above the Parapet night – he has a growing reputation as both a performer and raconteur, being thought-provoking, comical and punch-the-air political often in the same breath.

Teesside favourites The Young Hegelians will be headlining the festival at their last ever gig bringing their own searing blend of social commentary on (amongst other things) consumerism and Aung San Suu Ky – for the full programme visit www.shipyardsongwriters.com/festival.

The day will also include elements of open stage (an open platform for people to contribute new and old songs, stories and poems), a Speakers Corner slot with speakers invited to talk on topical subjects and a series of information stalls, alongside collaborations with Teesside’s finest spoken word night The Black Light Engine Room and alternative art group and D.I.Y. gallery Peg Powler.

Questions you might be asking yourself…….

What is Shipyard Songwriters

Shipyard Songwriters was set up in the North East of England in 2011 to bring songwriters, musicians and other artists together through a series of events, talks and projects. We’re interested in the idea of songwriting as a form of social comment, exploring and questioning how songwriting can be used in the 21st Century as a positive force for change. In 2011 Shipyard organised the highly successful Un-Convention Tyneside song-writing event working with some of the most exciting songwriters across the North East and beyond to create music and cross art form events and to encourage professional development opportunities through creative stimulation and collaboration. Our current work is focused on creating a platform for topical song and spoken word through events and workshops in Teesside.

What is Un-Convention?

Un-Convention is a grass-roots organisation working with independent and underground music around the globe. It meets physically and virtually to share ideas; discuss and debate cutting edge issues around music, technology and creativity; and facilitates members engagement with their peers. Un-Convention has happened 29 times around the globe in 3 years and has another 20 events planned for 2012.

LINKS:

SHIPYARD SONGWRITERS:

http://www.shipyardsongwriters.com/

UNCONVENTION:

http://unconventionhub.org/

THE WESTGARTH SOCAL CLUB:

http://www.westgarthsocial.com/

By peter on June 18, 2012