Raise Your Banners 2007

Raise Your Banners Festival is a festival of political song featuring a wide range of performances at a variety of venues, which takes place from 5th to 11th November 2007. Originating in Sheffield, the festival moved to Norwich for 2005, and is now in Bradford, West Yorkshire, a city with a strong socialist tradition.

The programme opens on Monday 5th November with a bonfire night theme at Treehouse Café (with seasonal food, song and story) at 2 Ashgrove, (entrance on Great Horton Road, opposite the university). To book ring 01274 732354. Cost: £3 on the door. Donations asked for, collections taken.

The rest of the programme is as follows:
Tuesday, 6th November – Castle Fundraiser at the Castle pub, Grattan Road, with a Raise Your Banners singers and musicians evening.
Wednesday, 7th November – Banner Theatre: 'They get free mobiles … don’t they?' at East Ward Labour Club. Admission free (donations to Marie Curie Foundation and Raise Your Banners fund in memory of activist, Maureen Galvin). Doors open 6.30pm.
Thursday, 8th November at 8:30pm – Julie Felix at the Topic Folk Club, Cock and Bottle 93 Barkerend Rd, Bradford, BD3. Tickets £8.
Friday, 9th November at 7:30pm - Oysterband, Chumbawamba, Dick Gaughan, Tracey Curtis with MC Nick Toczek. Tickets £15 from St George's Hall booking office.
Saturday, 10th November at the New Beehive from 2pm to 5pm - Fusion, Hollow Horse, Aidan Jolly, and Robb Johnson
Saturday, 10th November from 7.30pm to 11pm at the Bradford Irish Club - John Waller, Chris Butler, Fiona Keenan, Red Flags, Alun Parry, and Seize the Day.
Saturday, 10th November from 7.30pm to 11pm at the New Beehive - David Ferrard, Alistair Hulett, Claire Mooney, Roy Bailey, and Scarlet Heights.
Sunday, 11th November at the New Beehive from 2pm to 5pm - Karl Dallas, Steve Skinner, Bradford Women Singers, Geoff Watson, Soundsphere, and Seize the Day.

Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th November also feature Festival Choirs: There are free concerts featuring a massive selection of political and community choirs from across the country, at the Bradford Irish Club on Saturday morning and afternoon and Sunday morning.

Other highlights include poetry from Adrian Mitchell (one of the 60s Beat poets); a political song workshop; a Celebration of Black Political Music on Wednesday, 7th November at 7.30pm with Imani Hekima; Rad; Nigel Grey; and Moses Ekebuisi(tbc) with Hip Hop and Dub DJs after - £5; politics on the dance floor with DJs at the 1 in 12 Club from noon on Saturday; and a couple of punk gigs also at the 1 in 12 Club with Hevn, Gruel, and After the Massacre on Friday, 9th November and BD7 on Saturday, 10th November.

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