Elaine C Smith, Alasdair Gray and Suspire among acts
A FESTIVAL organised by local campaigners to celebrate progressive politics is expected to see hundreds attend to see comedy acts, bands and speeches at Glasgow’s Queen Margaret student union this Friday, 17 April.
The ‘CommonFest’ event, organised by Common Weal North Glasgow, part of the Common Weal campaign, will feature artist Alasdair Gray speak, actor and comedian Elaine C Smith, author Alan Bissett and Common Weal director Robin McAlpine.
Bands performing include rockers Suspire, rapper Loki and 2013 Scottish album of the year winner RM Hubbert, as well as David Macgregor from indie group Kid Canaveral.
Comedy acts Vladimir McTavish and Lady Alba will also perform.
Other organisatiosn represented on the night include the Living Rent Campaign and Scottish CND.
James McEnaney, one of the organisers of CommonFest, told CommonSpace that the intention of the festival is “to support the continuation of the progressive political momentum born out of the Indyref campaign”.
“If we learned anything from the referendum campaign it is that people were mobilised not just by political arguments but also by a sense of community and purpose,” McEnaney said.
“This spirit must now be harnessed to achieve lasting, positive and radical alterations to the structure of the state within which we continue, for now, to find ourselves.”
The organisers are looking for attendees to contribute to the artistic aspect of the event, by sending in pictures of themselves for inclusion in Glasgow-based artist Gemma Coyle’s interpretation of ‘All of Us First’: the slogan of the Common Weal.
Pictures can be sent by e-mail to boxofpaint10@gmail.com.
A recent Festival of the Common Weal took place in Perth to launch the Common Weal group in that area, with events taking place from 10-12 April.
The North Glasgow CommonFest runs from 7pm-late. Click here to get your ticket, and click here to join the facebook event and ask any questions to the event organisers.
Picture courtesy of Common Weal North Glasgow