The Working Class Life & Music Festival (22-30 Apr), which I run, starts exactly one month today.

The festival is the largest celebration of working people on the planet.

The festival celebrates the experiences and stories of working people through song, cinema, poetry, discussion, walking tours, lectures, music and photography.

It is important, in these times especially, that we celebrate each other’s experiences and turn the spotlight onto what is great about people.

It is now officially the largest celebration of working people anywhere on the planet and I’m delighted that it’s right here in Liverpool.

With an incredible 45 events the festival takes place right across Liverpool from 22nd April to 30th April.

To find out more about the Working Class Life & Music Festival simply visit http://www.workingclassmusic.org.uk

Roots fans take note of the Grateful Fred night on the 7th April. I’m not telling you because I’m playing it (I’m not) but it’s quickly getting a great reputation.

On Thursday 7th April they have the excellent Carrie Elkin from Austin Texas accompanied by guitarist/vocalist Paul Cataldo.

Support is from the exciting local singer/songwriter Steph Fraser and The Gratefulfred Houseband.

Tickets are just £5.00 from the www.gratefulfred.co.uk website and doors open at 7.45pm.

I’ll be supporting Roy Bailey at his Working Class Life & Music Festival gig in April.

You can get tickets here.

I had originally intended to do my own gig during the festival but I’m run off my feet with organising one thing and another so this makes more sense.

Plus I love supporting Roy Bailey. It’s always a treat to be on the same bill as Roy.

More than half the tickets are already sold though so do hurry to make sure you don’t miss out. Click here to buy your tickets now.

The gig takes place upstairs at The Ship & Mitre on Dale Street on Thursday April 28th 2011, and costs £10 advanced tickets only.

Buy tickets here.

The Working Class Life & Music Festival which I run starts next month in Liverpool.

It has over 40 events and takes place right across Liverpool from 22nd April to 30th April.

It is the largest celebration of working people on the planet.

I’m urging supporters to join up as a Festival Champion to help spread the word. It’s really easy and only takes seconds to do each mission.

If you believe in what the festival is doing, sign up as a champion too just by clicking this link http://www.workingclassmusic.org.uk/get-involved/

If you missed my interview yesterday morning regarding the struggle of the Dirty Thirty during the Miners Strike you can click the link below to listen in to myself and author David Bell whose book inspired my song.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00f2ssy/Ben_Jackson_07_03_2011/

Just slide along to 1hr 23mins and 38secs (or thereabouts!) and you can hear the interviews and a bit of the song.

You can read the full BBC Website report into the story too. That’s here -> http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leicester/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9416000/9416878.stm
Here’s the song itself in full: