Billy Bragg

Since his rise to prominence in 1983 (he famously delivered a curry to an on-air John Peel resulting in the DJ playing a song from his debut Life’s a Riot with Spy Vs. Spy) the bard of Barking has become well known for his involvement in leftist political movements and songs like Between The Wars. Bragg has also penned as many love songs like The Milkman of Human Kindness,  A New England (made famous by Kirsty MacColl) and Levi Stubbs Tears.

He is probably more consumed with a wider range of projects than he was back in the 80s: over the past few years he has appeared in a play ‘Pressure Drop’; faced down fascists in his hometown and called on the UK government to withhold bankers’ bonuses. He’s also started the Jail Guitar Doors initiative providing guitars and instruments to people doing rehab work with inmates in prisons in Britain and the States.

“A formidable, inquisitive and globetrotting combination of storyteller, historian, activist, father, enthusiast, pilgrim, entertainer, minstrel, humorist, rambler, sermoniser and scholar.” Paul Morley.