THERE is so much going on at the moment.

Last Friday I was in Woking for my first gig at a new grassroots cultural initiative, and what a wonderful place Fiery Bird Music Venue is. Once the local HQ of KFC and McDonald’s, it’s been transformed into a DIY cultural centre with a lovely gig space, all kinds of community projects and a kitchen garden — all run by volunteers. Well done to everyone involved — and they are looking for performers, so if you’re happy to play for a cut of the door and can pull a crowd get in touch with them at fierybirdvenue.org.uk.

Today and tomorrow I’m co-organising a new festival at the Barn Theatre in my home town of Southwick featuring Ferocious Dog, Mark Thomas, Jess Silk, Eddie & the Hot Roads and loads more — while in London people gather for the biggest anti-fascist callout in years to oppose Tommy Robinson’s attempt to build the kind of far-right mass movement we confronted and defeated 40 years ago. Some of you will be undoubtedly be reading this at the rally. Solidarity.  

I’m gutted I can’t be there, and far more gutted that after all these years the lessons of the past have once again not been learned and we have to deal with this bollocks once again. A new generation must step up to the mark, and as for the task facing Labour I wrote this. The failure to scrap the two-child benefit cap really wasn’t a good start. 
 
A WARNING TO STARMER 
 
We’re going to tax non-doms
Some thought we said ‘condoms’.
And that is a measure
Of the task at hand 
There’s widespread estrangement 
And huge disengagement 
From all politicians 
In our battered land 
The change must be massive
Not timid and passive 
Determined and forceful
Not weak and polite 
For watching and waiting
And snarling and hating
Are our next opponents: 
The populist Right.
 
And its Minister of Propaganda, Rupert Murdoch, is currently engaged in a battle with his own children to ensure that the only one who gets control of his poisonous legacy is his son Lachlan, the one who shares his views. 

Murdoch has single-handedly turned the profession of journalist into a cesspit: a grotesque propaganda machine which skews political debate, forcing politicians of the left into a grotesque choice between principled electoral oblivion or fear-ridden centrist blandness. Other non-dom billionaire owners now copy his methods.

I have literally never read a Murdoch hireling who can write well — their pens, whether real or digital, always quiver with fear at being suddenly cast aside at his whim. Read Good Times, Bad Times by Harold Evans and marvel how this individual ever got to run a freesheet, let alone the world’s most famous newspaper. Journalists of the world unite — you have nothing to lose but your brains. 

Murdoch’s empire needs to be brought down — by his own kids. Failing that by legislation. Enough is enough. 

Next weekend is the brilliant Rebellion Punk Festival in Blackpool, a multigenerational celebration of all aspects of our culture I have waxed lyrical about here before, and then I’m up to Edinburgh for two weeks at the PBH Free Fringe at Bannerman’s Bar. 

My show this year is called 14 Completely Different Shows in 14 Days: 14 hours of material spanning 43 years as Attila. I’ve got double that. The history of the last 40 years in poem and song, and as you can see from the poster, the set list is so big it drags on the floor. 

I’ve also been asked back to the wonderful St Cecilia’s Hall for the third time to perform my Early Music Show, where I use lots of ancient instruments to tell the story of the Levellers, Diggers and Ranters and the English Revolution of 1649. I’ll be accompanied by excellent radical Edinburgh songwriter Calum Baird, and details of both shows can be found in PBH’s Wee Blue Book and the main Fringe Programme. 

Have a lovely summer everyone.

For further info please visit www.facebook.com/attilathestockbroker and/or attilathestockbroker.bandcamp.com/merch.