UCS Anniversary at Celtic Connections 2012

Following the sell-out success of the UCS 40^th Anniversary Concert, and the various other events detailed on this blog, today is announced the ‘Son of’ the 40^th Anniversary Concert.

As Celtic Connections 2012 is launched, one of the key elements in an increasingly political programme is a further concert. The final line-up for this concert has not yet been announced, but potentially it involves a number of the artists who played on the 1 October date, plus some additions. The most detailed information on the line-up is on the Scottish Music Industry Association website where Arthur Johnston, David Hayman, Jimmie MacGregor, Eddie McGuire and Tom Leonard are listed.

While the bill may be fluid, the date is fixed - in the Old Fruitmarket on the final day of the Festival - Sunday 5 February. Bookings are already being taken on line via the Celtic Connections website

The Celtic Connections launch received wide attention in the media with the Concert given a high profile. The most comprehensive report is by Robert Dawson-Scott on STV. He also refers to the planned Woody Guthrie Centenary celebrations, and the concert with Justin Currie and Palestinian musician Kamilya Jubran. Tributes will also be made to Gerry Rafferty and Ray Fisher.

Other UCS events planned for the future include a screening of the Cinema Action films - UCS1, and Class Struggle, Film from the Clyde. Keep your eye on this blog for further information as it becomes available

UCS Anniversary in the media - part 2

In addition to the references in the post on this topic on 30/09/11 the main broadcast media have published material following the concert. BBC Scotland ran a piece on Sunday's Politics Show, and have a report on the concert on their website.

STV have a nice piece 'Voices from UCS' with interviews with UCS stewards.

UCS concert hits the note for the future as well as the past.

The mournful moan of a cello, and the sharp clang of hammers introduced Work-in at UCS, the premiere of a brass and traditional instrument suite written especially for this 40^th anniversary concert, by prominent Scottish composer, Eddie McGuire. The eclectic mix of instruments signalled the variety of the concert put together by Musical Directors, Rab Noakes and Hilary Brooks. Ranging from Elaine C Smith reading Alienation, Jimmy Reid’s Rectorial address to Glasgow University, through a short film, the rock of Kevin McDermott’s Where we were meant to be, the funk of Pat Kane, Clive Langer and Elvis Costello’s Shipbuilding - heartbreakingly sung by rising talent, Simone Welsh, interwoven with the traditional folk and political song of Greenmantle, Alastair McDonald, Jimmie Macgregor, Dick Gaughan and Arthur Johnstone, the evening was held together with wit and competence by Dave Anderson.

Many of these ‘review’ style shows can founder, and one element or another can drag. Not this one. You get the impression that even Pat Kane was given the instructions ‘two songs then off’! The three hour show moved along at a cracking pace, and managed to touch all the bases. Even the political speeches - from Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon and veteran campaigner, Tony Benn - hit the right note, stressing the importance of the work-in historically, and, in Benn’s case, the lessons that campaigners today need to learn from then. He was rightly, the guest of honour and received the evening’s only standing ovation.

There were surprises. Who knew that Jimmie Macgregor had such a political side? The house band itself was a revelation, consisting of such diverse talents as Rab Noakes, Eddie McGuire, Fraser Speirs, Hilary and Lorna Brooks. They coped with the range of talent in front of them brilliantly. 

The film is well worth a broader distribution (it currently forms part of the exhibition taking place in Glasgow’s Mitchell Library). Its ten minutes narrated by David Hayman, sum up the work-in and include some cracking clips of both Reid and Airlie. The STUC’s Kevin Buchanan rightly claims credit for its direction.

This anniversary has been driven by the veterans of the Shop Stewards Co-ordinating Committee, who commissioned event organisers FairPley to devise the programme. Many of the veterans were presented with commemorative badges by Unite Scottish Secretary, Pat Rafferty (Unite deserve huge plaudits for funding the series of events). This concert was planned as the key event - it did not let them down.

As the finale rendition of Your Daughters and your Sons rang out, it summed up the work-in’s importance for the future of the labour movement, and the struggle to defend the rights that they (amongst others) won for us.