Hard-Fi and Jay Sean are officially the latest acts slated to appear in Victoria Park for the Love Music Hate Racism Carnival. The pop band from Surrey and the UK R&B sensation Jay Sean have been added to an already impressive line-up that includes Patrick Wolf, Roll Deep, and Radio 1 DJ Nihal.
A one-off collaboration between Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex, who was instrumental in the first carnival in 1978, and Jerry Dammers of The Specials is also planned.
In 1976 Rock Against Racism was established in the UK by Red Saunders and Roger Huddle, as a reaction to allegedly racist remarks committed by David Bowie and Eric Clapton. Despite the modest intentions of Saunders and Huddle, the event grew and saw many incantations until a rebranding as Love Music Hate Racism in 2002.
Saunders said, “The passion and indescribable sense of cultural solidarity that Rocking against Racism brought to a whole generation of youth 30 years ago, is set to ignite a new generation with today’s vital multicultural music, and energy, at the LMHR anniversary carnival in Victoria Park.”
Just as the first event included an Anti Nazi League march, this years will also feature a march against racism and facism by the same group.
Refreshing as it may be that a festival with actual substance has managed to survive for 30 years, it is also encouraging to find that
young musicians embrace it’s message.
Hard-Fi certainly does: “I think people sometimes try to just brush aside racism and hope it will go away, but you need to get your voice get heard – who can shout the loudest? Music brings people together, racism divides – united we stand, divided we fall.”
The carnival held on Sunday 27th April, runs from 12noon til 6pm. Entry is free and advance tickets are not required.
By Sara Nowak
