Mayday

The so-called Haymarket Affair, that occurred on 1st May 1886, kickstarted a growing resistance aganst the elite and the fight for workers' rights in America. In the ensuing 130 years, Mayday has become an international day of protest against the rich and powerful.

It is worth noting the hysteria over migrant workers that surrounded the Haymarket Affair seems to mirror that perpetuated by today's media and politicians. Has anything really changed? Sadly, it seems not. It doesnt matter who you vote for, the government will always get in. As the UK gets ready to go to the polls in Theresa May's folly election next month, we'd do well to remember that as we place our X on our ballot papers.

To mark this day of uprising, here are a few protest songs I've dug up. To start with, Manchester's Cabbage, rising stars on the indie circuit. One of only a few young bands who are using their voices to ACTUALLY SAY SOMETHING!

• Austerity Languish - Cabbage (from 'Le Chou' EP)

The marvellous Barrington Levy released 'Robin Hood' in 1980. The title track compares one of England's most notorious characters - who stole from the rich to give to the poor - with modern day society, which works on a completely opposite philosophy. When Friday Come, from the same album, is a plea from a downtrodden construction worker to his "Mr Boss Man" to let him go home on Friday to see his family.

• When Friday Come - Barrington Levy (from 'Robin Hood')

The much-missed Sharon Jones, meanwhile, poses an interesting question: at a time when schools and other vital public services are deprived of funding, why are our taxes being spent on weapons no one wants? What if we decided not to pay our taxes? Who would fund mass destruction then?

• What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes? - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (from 'Soul Time!')

To finish, an undisputed classic. Grandmaster Flash's timeless rap about inner city life sums up what was wrong about politics and society in 1980, and to an extent, what continues to this day.

• The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (from 'The Message')

Does protest work? Without it, it's easy to just succumb to the inevitable and make it easy for "them" to exert their control. After 130 years you could argue little has changed, but that doesn't mean we should keep quiet. Silence just makes things worse.

This Monday Reggae Feeling

Under Mi Sensi by Barrington Levy

Barrington Levy released his first record aged just 13! He has barely stopped making music since. By the time he reached the grand old age of 16, he was already one of Jamaica's biggest stars. He toured the UK in the mid-80s and enjoyed commercial success with his singles Under Mi Sensi and Here I Come. His biggest UK hit came in 1990 as guest vocalist on Rebel MC's cracking single Tribal Base.

A breakthrough in the US eluded him though, at least until his 1998 album 'Living Dangerously' which featured Bounty Killer and Snoop Dogg. In recent years, he hasn't been so prolific but often collaborates with other artists. Earlier this year, he put out 'AcousticaLevy', an album of acoustic tracks, some new and some reworked oldies.

I've gone for Under Me Sensi from 1984. While it didn't chart in the UK at the time of release, it paved the way for his breakthrough album and single, both titled 'Here I Come'. A great track it is too.


Soundtrack:

• Under Me Sensi - Barrington Levy (from 'Here I Come')