Sertuc film club: two films about London black history

sertuc

Sertuc Film Club – Double Bill – 21st May

Discussion with filmmaker – Colin Prescod

From you were black, you were out
Describes the condition in the 1950s in Ladbroke Grove a decaying inner london area.

A town under siege
Focuses on how Southall organised to resist Racist and Fascist attacks between 1976 and 1981.

2 films (from 4 part series) by Colin Prescod made for Channel 4 at the beginning of the 1980s, chart the milestones in black people’s fight for justice Including -Notting Hill in 1958 and the death of anti-fascist Blair Peach.

The films reveal, in these histories, how unities across communities were forged so that black became a political colour, not the colour of one’s skin, how racism has changed over time and how state institutions have been forced to move in response to black challenges.

7-10pm
Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS

FREE, but register here

Party for the Ford/Visteon workers – Saturday

Playing some tunes alongside a varied selection of other people.

Taking place at Ramparts, 15-17 Ramparts Street, London E1 2LA. 7pm-2am

visteonfundraiser

7-9PM:
-workers from the Enfield factory will speak about the occupation and their ongoing dispute with Ford
-screening of the Reel News film and images from the occupation.

9PM-2AM: live music and DJs
-Half a Person (Mandolin)
-Special Guest Singing Sensation: Femii
-Double Negative
-DJ Anomie(Rocksteady / Dancehall)
-XC (Dancehall + Dubs)
-John Eden (Dancehall + Reggae)
-Martin Klang (Electro)
-Galaxy Code (Dubstep/D+B)
-other acts TBC
-sound system by trebor

ABOUT THE FORD/VISTEON DISPUTE
The workers at Visteon occupied the factory in Enfield on Wednesday 1st April. The previous day, in a 6-minute meeting, they were told that the European company, with plants in Belfast, Basildon and Enfield, was going into administration and that they could come and collect their possessions the next day, with no wages due. They are continuing to maintain a 24-hour picket outside the factory. A deal is being offered, but there are outlying concerns so the struggle continues. For more details and information on how to help out, visit:
http://visteonoccupation.wordpress.com/

interview with my left arm

So, tell me a little bit about yourself.

ARM: Well as most people will know, I’ve been attached to you since before you were born, right?

Yeah I guess that goes without saying… but what’s changed recently?

ARM: Well there’s some other people here who can explain that better than me. [to the others] Do you want to introduce yourselves?

R.S.I.: Hi, I’m your repetitive strain injury. I guess my role is to give you pains in your arm and wrist when you’ve been using a keyboard too much. It’s been a few years now and we get on OK I think?

arm

Well I suppose so. Who is the new guy?

B.E.T.: Hi there. I’m your benign essential tremor. It’s me whose been giving you those shakes since about February time.

Hi tremor! I was getting you two mixed up, wasn’t I?

B.E.T.: Yeah, ‘fraid so. I’m not taking it personally tho. It’s good we came to the hospital today to sort this out.

And you’re here to stay, right?

B.E.T.: Yup. Seems like I’m going to gradually get worse over the next 30 or 40 years, they reckon.

peebucket

Because of you, I have to piss in a container this weekend?

B.E.T.: Ha ha, yeah sorry, they still have some tests to do. On the upside you get to go for one of those gnarly MRI scans, tho.

Fair point, I’m looking forward that one. It was a pretty good consultation overall.

ARM: For you maybe! She was hitting me with a fucking hammer!

Well yeah, but only to check your reflexes…

ARM: And then they stuck a needle in me!

C’mon, it was a blood test…

ARM: Mmmph. Did you get embarrassed when that other guy came in and made me wave at her in all sorts of funny ways? I’m just saying ‘cos I thought you looked a bit of a spacker. Well, even more than usual anyway.

That wasn’t great. She was nice, tho.

ARM: You probably shouldn’t have made that joke about being drunk all the time when we realised alcohol makes the shakes a bit better.

It wasn’t my finest moment. Are you going to help me carry this piss container home now?

ARM: Yeah sure. You’re taking it quite well, I think.

Well it’s important to keep things in perspective. I mean, at least I know what the fuck is happening now and it isn’t that bad. My arm shakes a bit sometimes, but not noticeably. Yet.

I mean, three women I work with have had cancer scares in the last 6 months and only one of them has come out of it OK so far. Dubversion fucked himself up proper after falling off a ladder, and generally the older you get the more awareness you have of people quietly enduring all sorts of horrible things on a daily basis.

ARM: So you don’t hate me?

Nah, we’re good. It is just One Of Those Things.

Tiny T meets Jesse James inna Musical Fever

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Great rocksteady and ska session last weekend in Stoke Newington.

Tiny T (on the right) played an outstanding selection of tunes, most of which of course I had never heard before. There were a few “big people” in the crowd who seemed similarly impressed. Tiny is the son of Freddie Cloudburst, the man who gave Shaka his soundsystem apprenticeship back in the late sixties and early seventies.

Jesse James was playing tunes that literally nobody had heard before, unreleased Studio One ska, all sorts of stuff. He had great banter on the mic also.

It wasn’t billed as a clash and was really good natured as far as I could tell – Tiny’s heavy selections and Jesse’s showmanship complemented each other perfectly.

Check Musical Fever’s myspace for details of future events.

More of my grainy photos here:

berlin backyardradio » Blog Archive » John Eden: The Roots of DIY

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berlin backyardradio » Blog Archive » John Eden: The Roots of DIY.

Blimey, more from Berlin! I’d forgotten I’d done this – an interview with the lovely people at Backyard Radio whose studio is based in the Haus der Kulturen der Welt.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Check the site for more stuff including an interview with Kodwo Eshun and Steve Goodman.

shopping list

blair-peach

1) crowbar, small metal cosh, whip handle, whip, brass handle.

2) US type truncheon, two knives.

3) wooden truncheon.

4) bayonets, swords, a cosh and Nazi memorabilia*.

OK, so that isn’t my shopping list. It is a list of items which were found during a search of the lockers (*and home) of four police officers of the Special Patrol Group who were named in connection with the killing of Blair Peach. None of them were ever charged or (as far as we know) reprimanded. Calls for a public enquiry at the time were rejected. 

blair-plot-415x351

The investigation into the killing has never been released in full. 30 years later, The Friends of Blair Peach are still demanding that it be released.

The Institute of Race Relations has posted two very interesting articles during the anniversary:

The Political Legacy of Blair Peach

– on the ensuing political struggles, memorials and calls to disband the SPG. Also the setting up of INQUEST, a group dedicated to “helping families get justice through the coroner’s courts – especially when someone has died in custody or at the hands of the police”

Remembering Blair Peach 30 Years On

– about Blair Peach the man, which I think is an important way of rehumanising him, if that makes sense? All the column inches and lyrics tend to obscure the fact that he was a bloke, a teacher, someone’s friend, someone’s neighbour.

death_and_disorder_cover

I’ve also been reading Tony Ward’s Death and Disorder, which was published by INQUEST in 1985. The pamphlet deals with the deaths of Blair Peach, Kevin Gately (who was killed during a demonstration against an NF meeting in Conway Hall in 1974) and Cynthia Jarrett (who was killed during a police raid on her home in Tottenham in 1985 – one of the contributory factors to the riots in Broadwater Farm). Death and Disorder is still available from INQUEST for two quid + p&p.

All this has reminded me that 20 years ago me and my friend Gerry trogged off to Southall for the 10 year anniversary march of Blair Peach’s death. I can’t remember much about the day, but I guess it shows I’m consistent.

Bug / Flowdan / Ranking / AMS / MS

The other night was a blast. I was gutted about missing the film (and the ensuing Q+A), but managed to hook up with Mr Grievous Angel (whose new funky tune is imminent) and Mr STN and posse for the party at the Rhythm Factory.

I have to say I was in two minds about coming out on a Tuesday night to an event which hadn’t exactly been promoted to the fullest. But it was worth it.

Adrian Sherwood manned the decks first, using some serrato or laptop or new fangled tricknology. Also some bashy syndrum stuff which then looped into the mix. Nice selection including Shaggy’s “Stricly Rub a Dub” and a mash up of Max Romeo’s Chase the Devil instrumental with the vocals from the Beatles’ “Day In The Life”. Also some mad jungle mash ups including The Congo’s “Congoman”. He did great considering the place was half full and nobody was really ‘aving it. A work night, we all agreed “the main worry’s job security“… Sherwood feeds some Mark Stewart vocals into the mix. Except it then emerges that it’s the man himself on the mic, hidden away at the side of the stage.

the bug

Kevin Martin takes to the stage and ramps up the volume and intensity, tweaking the controls so he can mess with our heads. It’s been too long and the arrival of both Flowdan and Ricky Ranking heralds yet another leap in levels. Mark Stewart also MCs over some Bug beats. The audience responds in kind, the gaps near the stage fill up, bizarrely a load more girls seem to appear from nowhere. We all ended up staying much longer than we’d intended. Things like that interfere with my work life balance. Heh.

Mark Stewart film premiere + gig with The Bug and Adrian Sherwood

Film:

On/ Off – Mark Stewart from the Pop Group to the Maffia (World Premiere)

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Mark Stewart and Toni Schifer conducted by Mark Fisher, (K-Punk, The Wire).

Tues 28th April, 7.30pm
Genesis Cinema, 93-95 Mile End road, E1 4UJ, LONDON
http://www.genesiscinema.co.uk/
http://www.eastendfilmfestival.com/index.php?/programme/C16/#onoff

Gig:

Following the screening Mark Stewart will host a live gig at the Rhythm Factory featuring The Bug, who for over 10 years has lead the way with his groundbreaking mix of dubstep, industrial beats and hip hop, plus On-U Sound pioneer DJ Adrian Sherwood, and experimental electronica artiste Russell Haswell and special guests.

Tickets cost £10, but you can buy a joint ticket for both events for £15. People who have attended the screning, or have these tickets, are given priority to go to the party.

(Seems like The Bug’s huge tour of middle America supporting Nine Inch Nails went really well – lots more stuff in the pipeline now he is back in the studio…)