Anti PEL benefit gig Harlow 17.5.03

Subject: Anti PEL benefit gig Harlow 17.5.03
From: harlowpoet
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 06:21 AM

On 17 May 2003 there will be an anti PEL benefit gig, with song, music and poetry featuring Robb Johnson, Doodleoak, and Simon Vogel.It is at Gerschwins Bar, Harlow Playhouse, Harlow Essex.Admission will be £5.00 on door/£4.00 concessions. There is disabled access available.7.30pm for 8.00pm start.

The accoustics in the room are excellent and there will be no PA.

If anyone knows what the current position is, regarding the bill, can they let me know on this thread. I haven't heard a lot about it lately, what with wars and diseases etc on the news.

Subject: RE: Anti PEL benefit gig Harlow 17.5.03
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Apr 03 - 08:22 PM

Basically the situation is that the Government has chucked out the sensible amendments put in by the House of Lords which would have exempted unamplified music and smallish gigs. So now it's back to the House of Lords, to decide whether to roll over and accept this, or dig in its heels, and put the amendments back in.

In which case the Government would either have to drop the whole bill, and start all over again, or accept the amendments, and they wouldl't want to do either. The point is, since the bill was started in the House of Lords, probably because they assumed it'd be nice and uncontroversial, they can't use the Parliament Act to overule them.

Meanwhile the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are merrily trotting around.

Anyway, this should be a good gig. Give them my apologies, Simon, I've got to pop over to Ireland to sort out some family things. Here is a song I'd planned to sing if I'd been there - The Minister of Culture:

We'll never find a better friend than the Minister of Culture.
They may say we sent him round the bend, from Westmoreland to Wiltshire,
But every time we sing a song, and the licence is not handy,
We will think of Kim the Minister, from the land of Tonypandy.
Oh Kim we will remember you, who ever could forget you.
You're the man who tried to silence us, except, we never let you.

Well he promised this and he promised that, but he never could deliver,
"If there's no money changing hands it's different altogether
Oh you can hold your sessions there's no reason for a licence."
Just a fine of twenty thousand pound to calm us into silence?
Oh Kim we will remember you, who ever could forget you.
You're the man who tried to silence us, except, we never let you.

When it's summer down in Somerset you might hear the chorus ringing,
He says "I'd rather be in hell than hear those Somerset folks a-singing"
And he won't have no sing-songs in the public bar in London,
So the piano locked and bolted, with a lock that can't be undone.
Oh Kim we will remember you, who ever could forget you.
You're the man who tried to silence us, except, we never let you.

Oh the bells were ringing in the church, and the dancers on the paving,
And the Minister of Culture he was very close to raving.
Oh he blamed it on the Union, for grave misinformation,
But the Minister of Culture now is a joke through all the nation.
Oh Kim we will remember you, who ever could forget you.
You're the man who tried to silence us, except, we never let you.

(And here is a link to a RealAudio sound file of it (not a polished rendering...)

Subject: RE: Anti PEL benefit gig Harlow 17.5.03
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Apr 03 - 01:50 PM

Whilst I fully approve of the idea of this fund-raiser, without being funny or controversial, could you explain specifically how these monies, when raised, will be used? Who gets it? By what authority is it being raised? Some accountability is called for. A bit more info in your original posting would have been good. I really mean no offence,just a bit of information please, Thank you.

Subject: RE: Anti PEL benefit gig Harlow 17.5.03
From: harlowpoet
Date: 29 Apr 03 - 11:57 AM

After paying for the room, performers,and advertising there is unlikely to be any money, and the chances are we will be running at a loss. £5.00/£4.00 conc for Saturday night entertainment at this quality is actually very good. The 'benefit' is an awareness night. Anything over will go to the performers.

If you want a breakdown, the room holds 73 max. If we get a full house thats £350 approx. Room costs £80. advetising approximaelty £50.00. That will leave a total of £220 to pay main act and support,
This is assuming we have a full house. The perfomers will know how many paid audience there are.That is the accountability

Anyone who runs folk events/clubs knows how hard it is to break even. Thats why we're so annoyed about the proposed licensing bill.

Subject: RE: Anti PEL benefit gig Harlow 17.5.03
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Apr 03 - 12:03 PM

Probably a bit of a misnomer to call it a benefit then?

Subject: RE: Anti PEL benefit gig Harlow 17.5.03
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Apr 03 - 04:12 PM

Money isn't the only way something like this can benefit a campaign.

Subject: RE: Anti PEL benefit gig Harlow 17.5.03
From: Lanfranc
Date: 29 Apr 03 - 07:16 PM

I wondered about the "benefit" title when I first heard of the event, but now they've asked me to join the line-up, I have concluded that the benefit might be simply making a few more people aware of the stupid, ignorant, Philistine, control-freak law that will probably be enacted by that bloody man Blair's massive majority while he diverts attention by playing statesman.

He'd have done better to stick to playing guitar!

Having just seen him taking the pi** out of Bush, Blair and the mystery of the missing WMDs in Moscow, Vlad Putin would get my vote - for now, anyway!

Kevin, I'll try to learn your song in time for the gig, and perform it on your behalf if I can.

Yesterday we sang
Tomorrow we may not
Howells could do that

Alan

Subject: RE: Anti PEL benefit gig Harlow 17.5.03
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 30 Apr 03 - 08:27 AM

Sorry cannot be there but you have my support. Hope it gets a good turn out.