With the country still in the midst of lockdown and no sign of any live music in the foreseeable future if at all this year I thought I would take the opportunity to look back in the archives, sounds posh I know but it’s just an spreadsheet, and revisit gigs I attended on this day down the years. I will keep this going until I can attend my first gig again in person so hopefully this also brings back memories for my gig going chums who have joined me on this great musical journey down the years.
Just a couple today for my trip along memory lane for you down the years.
1986, Anti-Apartheid Rally, Clapham Common, London
Way back for this one as me and Antony join over 70,000 protestors marching from Hyde Park to Clapham Common in support of this cause. It was certainly the largest gathering of people I had ever seen as we snaked our way to the common. Whilst I obviously don’t condone the behaviour one of my memoires of the day was literally hundreds of people just walking into an off license on the way and clearing the shelves.
The list of artists performing and speaking on the day was impressive taking in Sting, Elvis Costello, Sade, Big Audio Dynamite, Style Council, Boy George, Billy Bragg, Hugh Masekela and Peter Gabriel to name a few.
Luckily the weather held and it was a great day of music but of course as I mentioned yesterday Gabriel stole the show with the emotional ‘Biko’ made even more poignant in the context of the day itself
2017, North Mississippi Allstars, Dingwalls, London
This gig was reviewed at the time here and there’s probably little to add. A great blues band who always deliver live.
That’s it for today’s trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping we can get to some form of normality soon. Support your small local venues and smaller artists in these difficult times, stay safe and keep on rockin y’all.