August 14, 2009 by alunparry
Peterloo Commemoration Gig in Manchester
This Sunday I’ll be playing a gig to commemorate the Peterloo Massacre 190 years ago.
The massacre happened on 16 August 1819 in St Peter’s Field in Manchester.
At least 60,000 people had gathered at a meeting to demand reform of parliamentary representation.
They were charged by the cavalry with sabres drawn.
Up to 700 were injured. 15 were killed.
The gig starts at 7pm and takes place at the Briton’s Protection pub on Great Bridgewater St (M1 5LE).
As well as myself it features the excellent singer songwriter Claire Mooney, Manchester poet Dave Puller, and the Sargasso Township Jazz Band.
See you there!
yvonne wall - August 17, 2009 @ 2:49 pm
sorry i missed it but i was at the day time event. :)
judith - August 18, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
We,( Kai, Little Jim, Mini and I )really enjoyed Al’s set on Sunday night. Al was in top form despite a broken string and borrowed guitar.
The evening event was hosted by Manchester Trade’s Council,many thanks to them – compered by Claire Mooney – there must have been fifty people in the room. The point is – there should have been thousands.
This event was to commemorate the 190th anniversary of the Peterloo massacre.In case you don’t know about it, read Al’s post – the scandal is, in general , we don’t know about it, because we are not taught about it.
Maybe the establishment just don’t want us to know – or even want us to be allowed access to our own history. Still, it’s a comforting thought to know that workers and their families being brutalised, cavalry charged, mowed down and killed for standing up for their rights is a thing of the past. Well, I hope that woke any reader up – it is not a thing of the past, but a thing of today and probably the future. It can happen here. It has happened here.
So, on that cheerful note, big thanks to Al and the rest for keeping it alive !.
Best wishes.
Judith.