Dizraeli to head the bill in fundraiser
Article published: Tuesday, March 22nd 2011
UK Poetry Slam Champion Dizraeli will take to the stage this Friday 25 March in a fundraising event for a project that will see a group of Manchester cyclists embark on a journey of solidarity across Europe to the Middle East. He is to be joined by other celebrated hip-hop acts including DJ Downlow and virtuouso beatboxer Wireless at at Islington Mill in Salford.
Dizraeli in action - image by Very Quiet on flickr
Award-winning rapper Dizraeli will head the bill in a night of live hip-hop, bands and DJs at Islington Mill this Friday.
The rapper and poet, who rose to prominence in 2007 as the Farrago UK Slam Poetry Champion and for dazzling performances on BBC Radio 4, is renowned for his inimitable story-telling which blends a gritty vision of British life and culture with political insight and wit. In his observational style he shies away from no subject matter – tackling everything from supermarkets and masculinity to drug culture and love.
Featuring alongside him will be world DJ Championships finalist Downlow and vocal beatboxer Wireless.
Organised by Manchester-based DJ and musician collective Mind on Fire, the night is set to raise money for PEDAL: 100 Days To Palestine as they embark on an epic journey across Europe – by bicycle. The group – which includes around 15 community organisers, artists and food growers from all over the UK – are cycling across Europe to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israeli state oppression.
But their journey is not just limited to highlighting injustices and oppression in Israel-Palestine; along the route they intend to show the link between environmental and social justice and how people across the region are finding creative ways to reclaim their lives. To this end they will visit communities of resistance on the road with whom they will share stories, skills and strategies of resistance from London to Jerusalem.
Part of the project will be a ‘Cultural Cookery Book’ – a compilation of recipes from different communities and a living record of how people interact with food. They will also build a ‘Seedback of Solidarity’ – a collection of heritage seeds from peasants and farmers across Europe demonstrating the struggle for sustainable and autonomous food growth, free from corporate control.
Included in their number are several Manchester residents. Ed Stockwell, who will join the caravan of cyclists later on in the journey, said: “It is fantastic that Dizraeli has offered to come down to offer his support to the project. He is a true folk hero who captures the truths of our time with honesty, wit and wisdom.
“Thanks to the generosity of the promoters and artists the prices of tickets are cheap, so we are asking those who support Palestinian and Israeli popular anti-oppression movements to come along for a night of thought-provoking hip-hop and tunes.”
Also on the bill are the Mind on Fire band, who will bring their unique brand of experimental aural pleasures, followed by DJs from soundsystem providers Herbal Sessions.
Advance tickets are only £4 from skiddle.com. The gig will take place at Islington Mill, Salford – a five minute walk from Manchester City Centre. There will be more tickets on the door.
You can find out more about PEDAL: 100 Days to Palestine at www.100daystopalestine.org
For more press information contact Ed Stockwell on 07729 222 624 or on email edstockwell@gmail.com
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Comments
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What a shame PEDAL is going all that way, and by bike too, and only going to protest against Israeli state oppression!
Don’t they know that the middle east is overwhelmingly composed of undemocratic states which have terrible human rights records and oppress their populations in an evil and terrible way? No free elections, no free speech, no free press, no fair trials, religious intolerance etc, etc.
Israel is the only democracy in the area – not a perfect country by any means, but a by the standards of the region it is a beacon of democracy, freedom of speech and the rule of law. And this is the country PEDAL choose to whine about!
Comment by simon on March 23, 2011 at 4:26 pm
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