Billy Bragg Miners Salute

Legendary British folkie Billy Bragg has announced a new solo tour across Wales to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Miner's Strike.

Although Bragg had released material before the strike it is with the Miner's Struggle, and the numerous benefit shows he played up and down the length of the country, that he is remembered. In the year of the strike the folk singer released the politically charged EP 'Between The Wars' while also recording the classic album track 'There Is Power In A Union'.

The Miner's Strike came to define a divided nation, pitting the forces of the right wing government lead by Margaret Thatcher against the left wing Miner's Union lead by Arthur Scargill. Ultimately the miners lost, and today the British mining industry is virtually a memory.

In a statement Bragg revealed that "my political education really was the twelve months of that strike".

"Once you go out into the coalfields and do these gigs and then go back and kip on someone's sofa, they rightly want to know if you're just some pop star from London who's come up to sell more records or if you can actually walk the walk as well as talk the talk."

He added: "If we look again at our history we'll understand there are other ways to respond to this economic situation other than passively."

"Once, people resisted the layoffs and the cutbacks by organising. That message needs to be restated - it's a painful lesson to learn and each generation needs to be reminded of that," he added.

Billy Bragg is set to play the following dates:

June
5 Blaenafon Workmen's Hall
6 Porthcawl Grand Pavillion
7 Cardigan Theatr Mwldan
9 Pontardawe Arts Centre
10 Brecon Brycheinoig
11 Caernarfon Galeri
12 Wrexham William Aston Hall
14 Aberystwyth Arts Centre
15 Blackwood Miners Institute

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