Music Stars to Shine at Progressive London Conference
Friday, 22 January 2010 12:41
Two of the UK’s award winning musicians are lined up to speak at the Progressive London conference hosted by former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone on the 30th January 2010 at the TUC in central London.
2009 winner of the highly prestigious Mercury Prize for Music Speech Debelle will be joined by the critically acclaimed Reverend and the Makers front man Jon McClure.
Speech Debelle will be speaking on a session about young people and the economic crisis, a subject she understands from her own personal experience of being unemployed and homeless, spending 4 years living in hostels. Speech explained why she believes the Progressive London conference and the session on young people and the economic downturn was so important
“"Unfortunately young people are the ones who will suffer the most from this recession; the up side is it means they are the ones they lift us out.”
Jon McClure is a Sheffield born and bred whose love of music is conjoined with a passion for politics that he developed while studying at University. When not playing or in the studio Jon is often to be found campaigning against the rise of the far right and the BNP. Jon will be speaking in the morning session of the Progressive London conference on Stopping the BNP in the 2010 Elections.
Explaining why he uses music to oppose the BNP Jon McClure said:
“For me the reason I make music is through having been exposed to multicultural influences growing up in Sheffield. The BNP is an anathema to all this. I believe fusion of culture to be the only way to discover new sounds and styles. The BNP stands in direct opposition to this.”
Along side Jon McClure at the session on stopping the rise of the BNP will be Martin Smith from the successful campaign organisation Love Music Hate Racism who have put thousands of gigs on around the country to oppose the BNP. Martin said:
“Exposing the BNP for their vile and racist doctrine in 2010 is a massive priority for all those who support the values of a progressive society, which rejoices in our multiculturalism. Love Music Hate Racism with the support of bands like Reverend and the Makers are making a real dent in the BNP’s support, particularly among young people.
Welcoming the contribution Speech Debelle and Jon McClure will make at the Progressive London conference, founding organiser of Progressive London Ken Livingstone said:
“Progressive politics is not just about political parties - the involvement of both Speech Debelle and Jon McClure shows that there is a huge contribution to be made to the conversation many of us are having about putting forward a the progressive agenda from young people.
In many of our defining moments in history it has been young people who have been on the right side of the argument, on climate change, on opposition to the war, on support of religious and cultural tolerance, young people have shown time and again that they have the ideals and the values that define progressive politics. “
ENDS
