A host of indie stars have joined forces for a stunning show in a fan’s house, with Carl Barat, Jon McClure and more performing.
Instigate Debate is a new organisation that aims to get kids thinking about the world around them. Aiming to combat apathy against politics amongst Britain’s youth, the organisation has attempted to use music to get its message across.
Amongst the musicians who have pledged support to the organisation are Carl Barat, Babyshambles’ Drew McConnell and Jon McClure. On Tuesday (May 26th) Instigate Debate held a forum in London’s Boogaloo Pub, which saw Jon McClure face off against Labour MP Karen Buck and, bizarrely, Lucy Beale from Eastenders.
McClure is well known for his outspoken liberal beliefs. The singer formed Mongrel to give him a vehicle to spout off about the world, with one member of the band being subjected to interrogation from the Israeli police after attempting to play a gig in the Palestinian territories.
Lead singer Jon McClure, however, has restricted himself to claiming Mongrel would record their new album in Venezuela and would distribute thousands of free CDs across South America.
After the debate many of the musicians involved headed back to someone’s flat for an impromptu show. At one point, The La’s Lee Mavers Carl Barat, Drew McConnell, Jon McClure and more were all jamming together.
Lee Mavers, of course, is no stranger to impromptu collaboration these days. The reclusive singer emerged to play a number of gigs with Babyshambles, claiming in an interview that he would like the band to play on his new album.
Carl Barat, meanwhile, has been playing plenty of solo shows since the break up of Dirty Pretty Things. The singer has toured with Glasvegas across the United States, before returning to the UK.
The indie icon joined forces with his old songwriting buddy Pete Doherty at a recent show in London. Running through a number of classic Libertines songs, the pair seemed on good form and sparked rumours of a permanent re-union.
However with Babyshambles set to begin work on their new album, it doesn’t appear that this will happen.
Other performers on the night included The Lost Brothers, who feature former members of The 747’s and The Basement. Barat also took the time to introduce his protege Kieran Leonard, who played a short acoustic set.
Speaking to the NME after the show, Jon McClure claimed that he would love to work with Instigate Debate again. “I’ll play anywhere, I don’t care what the gaff’s like,” he said. “Or where it is, either. We’ll travel to whoever wants to have us.”
