‘No Pasaran: A Night of Protest Verse, Song and Film’
FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY
The event will mark the Seventieth anniversary of the Battle of Jarama, the first major engagement of the British section of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. ‘Philosophy Football’ has organised this event to celebrating a supreme moment of solidarity, an episode that inspired the modern protest song movement with the brilliant poem ‘Jarama’.
Our night begins with a specially commissioned film mixing rarely seen archive film footage with interviews of surviving international brigaders. The film has been put together for us by Simon Green of www.eventful.org.uk
We are delighted to be joined by Jack Jones, political commisar of the British Battalion’s Number One ‘Major Attlee’ Company and Sam Lesser who was one of the first British volunteers to join the International Brigade, serving in the October 1936 defence of Madrid, and involved in propaganda work in Barcelona after being wounded at Lopera in 1937. Actress Maxine Peake will be reading La Pasionaria’s incredibly moving farewell speech to the International Brigade. The brigaders will be introduced by Jim Jump, trustee of the International Brigade Memorial Trust.
Poets Mike Rosen, Andy Croft and Lemn Sissay will be reading both from their own work and the poetry of International Brigders compiled in the superb collection recently published by Lawrence & Wishart, ‘Poems from Spain’.
Film-maker Gregg Macdonald of MadInertia Productions has compiled a special short film for the night of today’s anti-fascist, anti-racist musical movement ‘Love Music Hate Racism’ to make the connection to the protest movements that continue the fight seven decades on from the International Brigades.
And closing this most special night, folk legend Leon Rosselson, with Robb Johnson and Tracey Curtis play a set of protest songs old, and new. With soundsystem provided by our in-house DJ MelstarsUK: Music
With a late licence and food available another great Friday night out! Presented by Philosophy Football in association with the International Brigade Memorial Trust and supported by the GMB’s ‘BNP-Free Zone’ campaign. ‘ No Pasaran’ starts at 7pm, at The Offside Bar, 271 City Road, London EC1.
Its FREE, continuing our commitment to renewing a political culture of dissenting ideas and dangerous entertainment that refuse to be commodified!
BUT advance registration is ESSENTIAL. REGISTER by replying to events@philosophyfootball.com with full name(s). Do PLEASE spread the word but advise friends and contacts to register early!
Of course our SPANISH CIVIL WAR shirts and the Poems from Spain book remain available at www.philosophyfootball.com
Essential wear and reading for the 16th!
Hope to hear from you soon.
Mark Perryman, Co-founder Philosophy Football
