» Geoff Martin interview
Music Matters: How can music influence politics? Nick Aldwinckle quizzed Leftfield organiser Geoff Martin
With this year’s Glastonbury Festival fast approaching, a series of Brighton warm-up shows in aid of the Glastonbury Leftfield Stage have been announced. The stage is run by Geoff Martin, director of Rock Against Racism. He told Latest 7 what inspired him to use music to fight for equality and justice.
Tell me about the Leftfield Stage.
It was set up in 2002 with the aim of having an area at Glastonbury run by the trade union movement. I used to be active in Unison, but now I devote my time to this.
The first time, we had just six weeks to get the stage together, so I ended up compering, serving behind the bar, being stage manager, playing the spoons and singing with Billy Bragg! At first it was just a corner of the beer tent and we’ve grown to being the biggest covered venue on the Glastonbury site. Glastonbury’s always had that radical campaigning edge, whether it’s Greenpeace or Water Aid or CND. That’s the identity of the festival and it should be about more than just people going down there and enjoying the bands.
So it’s a combo of music and social discourse?
Yeah, but the one thing we don’t want is to ram it down people’s throats. We’ve got to attract an audience and we have a big tent to fill!
On a Sunday lunchtime Tony Benn comes down and rallies the crowd, and it’s amazing. He gets a bigger audience than Hard-Fi and even gets mobbed! He came down the first time and got really fired up. Likewise, Billy Bragg’s been great. He’s our international cultural attaché! He goes around the world, calls me and says ‘Hey Baldy! There’s a good act here we should get involved’ and he’s never wrong. It’s like if we could get this going on in a muddy field in Somerset, think of what else we could be capable of!
Last year we had a Columbian trade unionist who survived seven assassination attempts. It’s great to get heroes like him and Tony Benn. We blend music, film, comedy, spoken word and debate. Everyone gets a fair deal and enjoys themselves at the same time.
What’s the criteria for playing there?
You don’t have to pass a test to play at the Leftfield! All we ask is that bands come down and support one of the campaigning causes. Most people in the industry are pretty clued-up politically and this is great for us.
What cause will Alabama 3 be supporting when they headline the Leftfield Stage this year?
It’s the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation, set up by Paddy Hill, one of the Birmingham Six, who was wrongly convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings. He spent the best years of his life in jail, so he set this up to shine a light on miscarriages of justice.
It’s very close to the heart of the Alabamas. They played Brixton Prison last week. The criminal justice system is something they’re outspoken about. Prison should be about rehabilitation and not just punishment. You have to have organisations like this to ask the government questions.
What do you make of the Glastonbury Jay-Z backlash from fans?
I think people need to broaden their horizons. If they want an indie band, they can go over to the John Peel Stage any hour of the day! I don’t think it’s racist, it’s more about people that can’t see past their Fender Stratocaster. The whole thing about Glastonbury should be variety.
Tell us about Rock Against Racism.
This year it’s the 30th anniversary of RAR.
We’re having a re-engagement exercise in appealing to the younger generation. The shows we’re doing in Brighton are official Rock Against Racism shows, though Glastonbury warm-ups too. We’re conscious music has to be vigilant on racism. It’s partly about raising funds but also giving people encouragement to get involved themselves.
I went on the first march in 1978 as a 15-year-old punk who loved The Clash (who played) and that got me into doing what I do today.
What’s going to be at the shows?
A few speakers from local unions, I’ll get up and give it a bit of welly. We’ve got great acts performing, including the passionate folk singer Frank Turner.
The Krak are playing, who have Babyshambles’ old drummer, as well as this Brixton band called The Thirst, signed to Ronnie Wood’s label. We’ve also got acts from Brighton, including Elle Milano, Teasing Lulu, Maths Class, Jonestown Union and Bobby McGee’s. It’s going to be a marathon, but will be worth it! Music doesn’t change the world, but it can change people’s perceptions, which is what we want.
Motown was the soundtrack to America’s civil rights movement, so that goes to show what good it can do.
The Glastonbury Leftfield/Rock Against Racism shows are at various Brighton venues Friday 13 June. For full information, visit www.kongpromotions.co.uk
