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This is not the first time Katy B and Jessie Ware have shared the stage. The two British singers united at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in May 2013 to perform a collaboration from an EP which Katy B released in December 2012. Nowadays, Ware is currently doing promotions for her sixth album ‘Superbloom’ due to be released in April, whilst Katy B has not released any music since the single ‘Paradise’ in March 2023. Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Billy Bragg also took to the stage. Bragg who is renowned for his politically charged lyricism took to Instagram earlier in the week to encourage fans of his to join him in supporting the cause. He inspired all attending to march together “to show our neighbours that we’ve got their backs” and urged fans to join him to “make unity visible”. This eclectic range of performers was a  reflection of London and the UK as a whole – a multicultural, diverse and all-compassing collection of communities.

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The march began in Park Lane where it then followed a route which finally made its way to Trafalgalar Square. Aside from speeches and performances, crowd chants of “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here” helped to underpin one of the central themes which inspired the march. It is estimated that over a hundred charities as well as nearly fifty civil society organisations showed their support. Other celebrities who are also known to be proudly supporting the cause include Sir Lenny Henry, Paloma Faith, The Fontaines, James Acaster and Steve Coogan. Elsewhere, Green Party leader Zach Polanski and Labour MP Diane Abbott seemed to come together on a shared issue to galvanise the crowd to continue fighting for inclusion and community. In a speech to the crowd, Polanski declared “We will defeat hate. It’s time to make hope normal again.”

According to The Independent, the former US president and the first lady are due to arrive in the UK today (Tuesday, September 16). Their itinerary begins at Windsor Castle, where they will be hosted by King Charles and given a ceremonial welcome. On Thursday, September 18, they are scheduled to visit Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife at Chequers, the official country residence in Buckinghamshire.

The trip has sparked widespread backlash, with a series of protests organised throughout the week. The Stop Trump Coalition will demonstrate on Windsor High Street this evening, while Wednesday, September 17, will see a large-scale march through central London, culminating in a mass rally at Parliament Square.

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Among those throwing their weight behind the protests is Billy Bragg, who took to social media to promote the central London gathering and explain why he believes the visit represents a “humiliation” for the UK. Sharing a poster for the ‘National Demonstration Against Trump’s State Visit,’ he urged people to assemble tomorrow at Portland Place at 2pm before joining the rally at 5pm.

In his caption, Bragg wrote: “Donald Trump’s visit to the UK this week is a moment of national humiliation. He will regard the red carpet rolled out for him as an act of fealty that gives him the right to punish the UK should we do anything that displeases him.”

 

 

 

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He continued: “Sucking up to bullies never pays off. They sense weakness and revel in exploiting it. This Wednesday, we have a chance to show not just that Trump is not welcome, but also that we reject the Trumpification of UK politics. I’ll be playing some songs at the Stop Trump rally in Parliament Square. Hope to see you there.”

Bragg has long been a prominent voice in British politics, frequently using his platform to engage with social and political issues. He was outspoken in his criticism of the Conservative Party during the 2024 general election and earlier this year released the single ‘Hundred Year Hunger’, expressing solidarity with Palestine and voicing support for Irish rap group Kneecap.

As Trump’s visit draws protestors to the streets, Bragg’s involvement underscores the enduring role of music and cultural figures in amplifying dissent. His presence at the rally not only reinforces his reputation as an artist-activist but also highlights the wider resistance among many in the UK who are determined to show Trump is not welcome.

The singer opened up this weekend about experiencing an “insane” amount of “personal abuse” after her Glastonbury performance https://t.co/q38G3CuVO6

— NME (@NME) June 26, 2023

It is customary for BBC (via BBC 6) to put partial live clips onto their social media platforms during the artist’s performance, but Billy Nomates asked the BBC to take down her clip after it was subjected to a severe backlash from users. The post-punk performer cited hateful abuse directed at her for the reasoning behind her request to BBC 6 and suggested she is done with performing completely for the foreseeable future.

Speaking about the incident, Billy Nomates said, “I know it’s not for everyone, what I do. I know lots of people don’t rate me. But the level of personal abuse on that public page is too much. There will be no more shows after this summer. You wouldn’t stay in a workplace that did to you. Why should I.” The BBC has agreed to Billy Nomates request and removed the social media post from their platforms, however the full performance is still available via iPlayer.

It saddened me to hear how deeply effected you were by the abuse .I get it . But I’ve been watching you for a while .And your energy is vital .Because, People like you need people like you .Be brave , be defiant , Be whats needed Because thats what you are . — Robbie Williams (@robbiewilliams) June 26, 2023

Billy Nomates is the stage name of musician and songwriter Tor Maries who originated from Leicester but creates her music in Bournemouth. Despite being a lone act, Maries began to draw attention after releasing her self-titled debut and was noted for her vocal delivery-often weaving between singing and spoken word. Without the support of a live band to accompany her, the main source of ire being directed at Maries was her utilisation of recorded tracks during her live performances instead of being backed up by a band.

While Maries may acknowledge that her brand of pop-rock is not for everyone, she’s certainly not without numerous support from fellow musicians. Perhaps most notable among them, socio-political artist Billy Bragg voiced enduring support for the singer speaking via Twitter, “solidarity from everyone at Left Field with Billy Nomates who was so badly abused online after her Glastonbury set was posted on BBC 6 Music that she asked them to take the clip down. She played a set for us last year and was brilliant. You’ll always have [a] place here Tor.”

Solidarity from everyone at Left Field with Billy No Mates who was so badly abused online after her @glastonbury set was posted on @BBC6Music that she asked them to take the clip down. She played a set for us last year and was brilliant. You’ll always have place here Tor pic.twitter.com/ZNMxX4aGZ3

— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) June 23, 2023

A spokesperson for BBC 6 went on to add, “we want 6 music to be a place where brillant artists such as Billy Nomates are celebrated and supported, and we have respected Tor’s rewuest to have the clip posted on our social channels removed.” Many fans have come out in support of the singer  as well and they will be sincerely hoping that Billy Nomates makes a return to the touring circuit after the summer festival season ends.

The boxset entitled ‘The Roaring Forty | 1983-2023’ is set to be released on 27^th October this year and is available for pre-order now. Compiled by Bragg himself, fans can look forward to 3 formats of Bragg’s music.

The first format available is a single disc ‘primer’ of 13 songs on limited edition orange vinyl.

A 40-song, 3-album collection on three varying shades of green vinyl is also available to purchase, ‘to appeal to casual admirers and die-hard fans alike.’

Both limited edition colour vinyl formats are also available to purchase as a CD.

The third format is perfect for Bragg fanatics, allowing them the opportunity to own a 14-CD boxset containing over 300 songs. This limited edition ‘Super Deluxe’ boxset includes all 12 of Bragg’s studio albums, non-album singles and B-sides, as well as previously unreleased material and live recordings from throughout his career. With this edition, fans will also receive a large format book including images of 40 significant mementos from Bragg’s life, including the flyer to his first solo gig, his first NME cover, the Red Wedge Manifesto and much, much more.

When ordered from Bragg’s official shop, the first 1000 orders of any format will come with a signed A4 art print, as well as access to pre-sale tickets for an upcoming tour.

Known for his left-wing activism as much as his folk and punk rock music, Bragg has publicly tackled political issues throughout his career, using his platform to further the socialist agenda. Much of Bragg’s work incites its listeners to join activist causes, allowing Bragg to obtain a passionate and confronting fan base, many of whom have been with him since the 1980s.

Bragg tweeted, ‘In the early 80s, I realised if I wanted to hear music that said something about the state of the world, I’d have to make it myself.’ He has continued to act as a spokesperson for the left-wing and has compiled these ‘commemorative releases’ in honour of a career that hasn’t shied away from difficult conversations.

In the early 80s, I realised if I wanted to hear music that said something about the state of the world, I’d have to make it myself. To mark my 40th anniversary, I’ve compiled a number of commemorative releases spanning my career since then. Pre-order: https://t.co/BuRCFT8RJS pic.twitter.com/Or2sN0JqVh

— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) February 28, 2023

To celebrate his 40 years in music, an upcoming UK and Ireland tour is also set to be announced soon. Bragg is also set to play a charity show at the O2 Academy Oxford on 19^th May 2023. Tickets are available from 5^th March and can be purchased here.

For nearly 20 years, @HOPEnothate have been in the front line combatting racism and fascism in the UK, and I’m proud to help raise funds so they can continue their important work. Tickets on general sale 11am Sunday 5th March: https://t.co/cW0OW2F0Xg Support: @tomasmithmusic pic.twitter.com/ibIqi4Z2Vy — Billy Bragg (@billybragg) March 3, 2023

‘The Roaring Forty | 1983-2023’ is available to pre-order now.

Stream Billy Bragg’s discography here.

See Bragg on tour:

19/05/2023 – 02 Academy Oxford – Oxford

27/05/2023 – Catton Hall – Walton-on-Trent

05/08/2023 – Curraghmore Estate – County Waterford

Bragg went on to explain the meaning behind his adjustments on Twitter, “Times changed. Anyone born since the song was released would wonder why it’s a big deal to find common ground with a gay man. The front line now is trans rights.”.  The song has quite obviously always been about highlighting mutual respect amongst everybody. Stating that everyone should be entitled to owning their own sexuality, no matter in what form. When queried on what trans right Bragg was actually in support of, he simply replied, “[the right to] exist.”. 

Sexuality is a song about learning to respect difference. In 1991, the LG community were marginalised by AIDS and Section 28. Now that we have gay marriage etc the song needs updating and today, it’s the trans community who are marginalised and need our allyship

— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) November 11, 2021

Bragg doubled down when fans began to push back on his decisions to change the lyrics. Stating that pronouns are, “a simple way of showing respect. Nothing compels you to use them, just as nothing compels you not to call a person of Pakistani heritage the P word.”.

As well as these changes, “Sexuality (2021)” also has a new moment dedicated to former Smiths frontman Morrisey. After he was condemned by Bragg in 2019 in an interview with NME, for spreading far-right ideals. Bragg quips, “Don’t threaten me with Morrissey, whatever happened to that guy?”. He previously stated that he no longer enjoys listening to Morrisey’s solo albums, but this isn’t much of a burden because, as he told NME, “I wasn’t much of a fan of those anyway.”

All of the information we have on Bragg’s lyric changes have come to light from his current tour of the UK. See below the remaining dates. Order tickets here.

16/11/2021 – G Live – Guildford
18/11 – Corn Exchange – Cambridge
19/11 – Rock City – Nottingham
20/11 – Albert Hall – Manchester
21/11 – City Hall – Sheffield
23/11 – Dome – Brighton
25/11 – Cliffs Pavilion – Southend-On-Sea
26/11 – Leas Cliff Hall – Folkestone
27/11 – Roundhouse – London

Speaking about the tour in his statement, Bragg wrote: “In these challenging times, we all need something to hang on to. Like everyone else, my plans for 2020 have been disrupted by the pandemic, but today I’m announcing an extensive UK & Irish tour for this time next year to give me something tangible to work towards.”

He also said the following, as you can see in the tweet below: “My hope is that, by then, we’ll be able to get together again and enjoy the uplift that live music brings, to audience and performer alike.”

Today I’m announcing an extensive UK & Irish tour for this time next year. My hope is that, by then, we’ll be able to get together again and enjoy the uplift that live music brings, to audience and performer alike.

Tickets go on sale 10am Fri 16th Oct via https://t.co/W3HC5Fjluv pic.twitter.com/RRBYEZ1S4Q

— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) October 8, 2020

We know by now that musicians have responded to the lockdown situation and the lack of live music in a number of creative and rewarding ways. Bragg has turned to Twitter, where he is vocal about a number of things, not least UK and American politics, and the upcoming election (we would expect nothing less).

In addition, he has recorded a number of covers and fragments of songs for his own contribution to Clap for Carers, including We’ll Meet Again, an acoustic version of Blake’s Jerusalem, and a short, energetic burst of his own song, The Milkman of Human Kindness. The image of Bragg on the top of a hill, his electric guitar all wired up, is excellent.

To add to this eclectic selection of covers and entertainment, he asked his followers to vote between Taylor Swift’s Only the Young and Jackson Browne’s Before the Deluge, and Swift won by a tiny margin. Bragg, of course, is in his element with a good protest song, and Only the Young is Swift’s take on one, exclusive to her documentary Miss Americana. Unsurprisingly, he gives his cover a bit of Billy Bragg realism, working in a series of contemporary political declarations. You can listen to it here.

Swift and Bragg are perhaps the most unlikely pairing on the surface, but anyone who knows anything about either will easily recognise what their similarities really are. Speaking about co-presenting an award at the NME awards (way back – before all of this), Bragg wrote “I have a lot of respect for her and the stand she has taken on equality and artist’s rights. Needless to say we got on like a house on fire.” 

Unfortunately there is no sign of Taylor Swift coming on stage to help Bragg sell out all these venues. Despite this, Bragg is right that we need things to look forward to, and this is a great way to go about it. Tickets will be on sale here on October 16.

21/10/21 – Sage Gateshead – Gateshead
22/10 – Fat Sam’s – Dundee
23/10 – Barrowland Ballroom – Glasgow
26/10 – Philharmonic Hall – Liverpool
27/10 – New Theatre – Oxford
28/10 – Symphony Hall – Birmingham
30/10 – St David’s Hall – Cardiff
31/10 – O2 Guildhall – Southampton
02/11 – Ulster Hall – Belfast
04/11 – Vicar Street – Dublin
06/11 – Black Box Theatre – Galway
10/11 – Hexagon – Reading
11/11 – University Great Hall – Exeter
12/11 – O2 Academy – Bristol
16/11 – G Live – Guildford
18/11 – Corn Exchange – Cambridge
19/11 – Rock City – Nottingham
20/11 – Albert Hall – Manchester
21/11 – City Hall – Sheffield
23/11 – Dome – Brighton
25/11 – Cliffs Pavilion – Southend-On-Sea
26/11 – Leas Cliff Hall – Folkestone
27/11 – Roundhouse – London

Billy will be playing all his own classics, from his three-plus decade career, as well as some relevant and pertinent covers by his heroes and mentors down the years. Speaking about the new tour, Bragg was as passionate and driven as always, enthusing”Music can’t change the world, but it does have the power to bring people together. In such divisive times, it seems a good place to start.”

The tour is an extensive one, and in keeping with Bragg’s relentless touring style, and will come after the conclusion of the album Shine a Light in Australia this April. Bragg and Henry will begin in Reykjavik, Iceland on November 3, before a lengthy spell touring Britain, before heading to mainland Europe, and concluding with shows in Antwerp, Cologne, Berlin, Frankfurt, and finally Hamburg. the full list of tour dates are shown below.

Iceland Airwaves-Reykjavik-3/11/16

De La Warr Pavilion-Bexhill-5/11

Islington Assembly Hall-London-6/11

Junction-Cambridge-8/11

O2 Academy-Oxford-10/11

Town Hall-Birmingham-11/11

The Leadmill- Sheffield-12/11

Philharmonic Hall-Liverpool-14/11

The Queen’s Hall-Edinburgh-15/11

Wylam Brewery-Newcastle-16/11

Rock City-Nottingham-18/11

Tramshed- Cardiff-19/11

The Brook-Southampton-21/11

Clapham Grand- LONDON-22/11

De Roma-ANTWERP-25/11

Gloria Theatre-Cologne-27/11

Heimathafen-Berlin-28/11

Batschkapp-Frankfurt-29/11

Fabrik-Hamburg-30/11

In an interview with NME, Bragg stated that he thought the band had named their new album 48:13 as “they hadn’t bothered to think up any fucking titles“. Ahead of his regular performance at Glastonbury Festival, the outspoken activist used one of this year’s headline acts as a specific example for the lack of bands making a political statement with their music.

Despite Kasabian’s latest single ‘Eez-Eh‘ referencing Google and the NSA’s observational tactics, Bragg feels that “we have to admit that urban music is where the politics are nowadays” and that “there are still political singer-songwriters, but no one you could compare to The Clash, or even the Manics”.

The criticism appeared to be at its harshest when comparing Kasabian to Spinal Tap, with particular reference to the conduct of Serge Pizzorno and Tom Meighan in interviews – Bragg likened the guitarist to ficticious Spinal Tap frontman Nigel Tufnel.

You can catch both Kasabian and Billy Bragg at this year’s Glastonbury Festival and the former’s new album 48:13 was released today.