Event Date: November 22, 2008
Event Venue: Parc & Dare, Treorchy

It is hard to slate Billy Bragg when he stands for such honourable causes-but, as a live entity the talk outweighs the tunes; the rhetoric outweighs the rhythm; and, the politics outweighs the pop! As Bragg preached to his disciples at the Parc & Dare, Treorchy his left wing stance was food and drink to a crowd deep in the heart of socialist South Wales! Some of the chat was humorous, informative and enlightening-but, lengthy lectures were met with some derision!
Bragg plugged his new album ‘Mr. Love & Justice’ (Cooking Vinyl), he turned back the years with the likes of ‘Sexuality’, ‘NPWA’, ‘Levi Stubbs’ Tears’ and ‘Accident waiting to Happen’, and his love of Woody Guthrie also came to the fore. Nonetheless, the audience were desperate for more songs and less speeches-but; Bragg with only a guitar, several speakers and a mug of tea as his aides drives on like a Tony Benn mix tape!
Billy Bragg best describes his product as being in the same light as Marmite i.e. ‘You either love or hate it’; and, he admits that musicians cannot change the world-but, God bless ‘The milkman of Human Kindness’ for offering a visceral voice! Over 25 years, Bragg has fought for social equality, unity and harmony-and; he has rallied against the evils of fascism and its barbed wire subsidiaries e.g. Racism, sexism and homophobia. Newcomers are advised to try out the 2 CD set, ‘Must I paint you a Picture?: The Essential Billy Bragg’ (Cooking Vinyl)-and, the worries of the world and affairs of the heart take centre stage!

billybragg.com