About Us

It is now more than ten years since the first RYB Festival of Political Song was held in Sheffield - 1995. Since that time each successive Festival has been enthusiastically attended and received by an amazing number of writers, singers (solo performers and choirs) and musicians as well as sympathetic and supportive people who are committed to songs that comment upon the state of our world and call for a peaceful and democratic socialist society - music and songs that unite like-minded people across the world. Songs that reach out and call to an ever widening community.  It is the only festival that takes as it's theme the expression and development of political song.

At this time with a world increasingly dominated by the growing threat of environmental, economic and political catastrophe, these songs reveal a constituency of people who are seeking to confront these threats and for whom political song is a powerful means of giving encouragement and hope to millions of people. To share the experience of this Festival confirms for us all that we are not alone and that there are many who share our ideals and aspirations.

Political songs are entertaining and inspiring. You don't have to be solemn to be serious! There are often too few voices expressing our critique of political and economic policy. Many of us feel disenfranchised by the very government in which we had at least invested some hope. I would urge anyone who shares these sentiments or indeed are uncertain about them, to come to Bradford and the Raise Your Banners Festival in November 2007. I am confident you won't be disappointed.

Roy Bailey
Sheffield
November 2006