Raise Your Banners 2009

The RYB ethos: A Tradition of ProtestBack to top

The ethos of Raise Your Banners is one of inclusion and cohesion; it is international in outlook and supports oppressed people wherever they may be. It is not party political.

There is a rich tradition of British radical ballads, songs, poetry, drama and art created by common people so that some particular piece of history can be passed on from generation to generation. This tradition is not exclusive to Britain; people express their hopes and fears and celebrate their success in every community in every country.

Raise Your Banners is a festival of political song, a celebration. In the words of the patron of the festival Roy Bailey:

Since 1995 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 its theme the expression and development of political song.

In 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!

RYB - a brief historyBack to top

"Raise Your Banners" Festival began in 1995 in Sheffield as a tribute to Joe Hill. It was a success and became Raise Your Banners in 1997 and happened every two years at Sheffield Hallam University until 2001.

Unfortunately there was no festival in 2003. In November 2005 Raise Your Banners was reborn in Norwich, where Maureen Galvin from Bradford was a keen participant and workshop leader. Maureen responded to the plea for hosting the 2007 festival by returning to Bradford to gather volunteers to bid for the chance to hold Raise Your Banners 2007 in Bradford. We were successful in that bid and then the hard work started.

Tragically, Maureen died from a brain tumour in June. But she lived to see Raise Your Banners transfer successfully to Bradford. RYB 2007 was a tribute to a gallant socialist woman who worked so hard for the welfare of this city.

We believe that Bradford is a natural home for Raise Your Banners. Our city has a strong socialist tradition, people from many countries working all hours at all sorts of jobs. Each group contributes its own songs and stories to a unique cultural mix.

Art and politics are never far apart, community art and politics are inextricably linked, the Raise Your Banners festival is their showcase.

The 2007 festival was held at St George's Hall, The New Beehive and the Bradfod Irish Club. It was great fun and feedback from performers and audience was very positive. After a short rest and evaluation more people came on board to plan for RYB 2009.

Finding a venue was the first and probably most difficult hurdle. We want the 2009 festival to reach and interest the widest possible audience and after being shown round St Peter's House at the bottom of Church Bank, the new home of Kala Sangam, we were convinced that it would be an ideal venue. We are also lucky enough to be able to use Bradford Cathedral for some of the choir concerts.

We will have to wait and see where Raise Your Banners 2011 will take place but already committee members have been heard to say "... next time ..."

If you are interested in taking Raise Your Banners to a city /town /village near you then do please get in touch.