UCS concert will reveal ‘new’ talent

As we finalise the build up to the sell-out Celtic Connections Concert tomorrow, posted below is the latest press release about the UCS Work-in 40 Anniversary Celebrations. Have a good one tomorrow folks, and remember - there's more celebration in March!!

The organisers of the concert celebrating the 40^th Anniversary of Clydeside’s important UCS Work-in today announced that the Celtic Connections event scheduled for February 5, was sold out of the cabaret seating that forms the bulk of the venue. Only a few balcony standing tickets are left. 

In addition to the music, the packed audience will have a preview of the talents of Work-in cartoonist Bob Starrett. His cartoons and artwork will feature in the event programme, and on stage, actor David Hayman will dramatise some of his shipyard/Work-in stories, as well as some of the Work-in speeches.

The concert marks the inspiration given by the success of the Work-in to artists and musicians, and is being produced by Fair Pley with musical direction by Rab Noakes. 

Bob said ‘It is a bit strange to have some of these things I have done over the years featured after this time, but it is great that the contributions of people involved in supporting the Work-in are being recognised.’

He has been working in the film industry for some time now, but he says none of the Hollywood stars he has met matches Work-in leaders, Jimmy Airlie and Jimmy Reid.

 ‘I could listen to Airlie over and over again,’ he says ‘and Jimmy Reid never let you down in terms of the clarity of his analyses.’

Other Links with 40 years ago are being kept as the concert starring musicians Jimmie Macgregor, Arthur Johnstone, Dick Gaughan, and  Alastair MacDonald. Fraser Speirs, Scotland’s premier harmonica-player, will be there. Other musical performers include James Grant (of Love and Money), and Emma Pollock (of The Delgados). Rab Noakes will, round off an exceptionally busy Celtic Connections by performing too. (He has already played in his own concert and been musical director, producer, compere and performer for the sell-out Gerry Rafferty commemorative concerts).

Rab himself says “It was always going to be a busy festival for me this year but I would never turn down the opportunity to be part of commemoration and celebration of this momentous event. It is an opportunity also to underline the indelible links between trade union activities and arts and culture.”

In addition Eddie McGuire’s new composition - Work-in at UCS - a celebration suite - will feature. Eddie wrote an original piece for saxophones in 1971, that he presented to Jimmy Reid. This piece will be performed by Eddie’s traditional music band, the Whistlebinkies, Sax Ecosse and Alba Brass. Poet Tom Leonard will give a short reading. Well known actor and musician Dave Anderson is MC for the night.

Stephen Wright of organisers FairPley said “We are delighted  that Celtic Connections has recognised the UCS 40^th Anniversary by staging this concert on the last night of the festival. The support of musicians and artists was a key feature of the Work-in.  As the concert on 5^th February will demonstrate, their successful fight forty years ago to save shipbuilding on the Clyde continues to inspire artists to this day.”

The concert is being sponsored by Unite the Union, inheritor of many of the UCS unions’ members. Unite’s Scottish Secretary, Pat Rafferty said “The UCS campaign touched all facets of community and country - including artists in many spheres. It is fitting that a working class struggle is remembered in a festival that connects so many artists. It should provide an example for the struggle of today’s trade unionists.”

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.

Tony Benn links UCS struggle with today

The final release before the Gala Concert tomorrow night is below. The link between the struggles of today, and the work-in are clear for both activists now, and then. They are embodied in the figure of Tony Benn, who will be speaking to both the People 1st Demo, and the UCS 40th Anniversary Concert.

We'll see you at one or the other!!

30 September 2011 For Immediate Release 

On Saturday in Glasgow, veteran politician and campaigner, Tony Benn will be the keynote speaker at two important events. After the STUC’s People first demonstration, during the day, he will be guest of honour at a Gala Concert organised to celebrate the UCS work-in’s 40^th anniversary in the city’s Mitchell Theatre.

Tony Benn was the Labour Minister who created the UCS consortium in 1968 and a prominent supporter of the work-in when in opposition. He said; 

“The campaign against the cuts, which is being led by the trade union movement, has in many ways been inspired by the UCS work-in. That single event 40 years ago showed you don’t have to accept what the Government say. You can take a stand and make a fight. It shifted public opinion and, when public opinion shifts, government opinion shifts.

“That’s what David Cameron’s government should remember. The lessons of 1971 should tell the thousands of people fighting today’s cuts that they can be successful.”

The STUC’s General Secretary, Grahame Smith said,

“Like activists today the UCS workers faced a Tory government out to impose financiers’ solutions to economic problems. LIke communities today, they faced being forced to pay with their jobs for the crisis caused by irresponsible bankers. Their imagination, courage and organisation showed how a successful campaign could be won. That is why we wanted to have the broadest possible community base for the demonstration we have organised, and that is why we wanted to have Tony Benn as a living link speaking at both the rally and the concert.” 

Shop Stewards who were part of the UCS work-in have been busy organising a series of events to mark the 40^th anniversary of their famous dispute. In addition to the Gala Concert, an exhibition about the work-in opened in the Mitchell Library, a very special debate took place in the Scottish Parliament, and a civic reception is planned in Glasgow in November. The events are funded by a grant from Unite the union. 

The significance of the timing is not lost either, on the veterans who led that dispute. Jimmy Cloughley, a member of the UCS Co-ordinating Committee said,

“It is important when working people face increasing attacks on their jobs and conditions, to remember a successful struggle against a Tory Government bent on on butchering them. The community and country supported the UCS work-in. We righted a wrong,and it must never be forgotten. Unity of purpose, honesty, information, leadership and democracy are the lessons of UCS.”

Tony Benn will be backed at the concert by a line up of Scottish talent, many of whom played in fund raising concerts at the time. A specially commissioned suite Work-in at UCS composed by Eddie McGuire, the prominent Scottish composer will also feature.

The list of artistes includes Pat Kane; Jimmie Macgregor; Dave Anderson; Elaine C Smith; Arthur Johnstone; Dick Gaughan; Rab Noakes; Fraser Speirs; Kevin McDermott; Simone Welsh; Greenmantle; The Whistlebinkies; Alba Brass and Sax Ecosse.

ENDS