I KNOW I was not alone in feeling sick on May 7. There was real anger and despair up and down the country, as well in the bubble some of us escape to on social media. It was not a good night and one nobody wants to remember, especially all those already deeply suffering from five years of austerity. But echoing the words of Joe Hill, “Don’t mourn, organise,” people immediately knew they had to turn anger into hope and hope in action. 

One such person was Stephen Goodall who immediately contacted his friend singer-songwriter Joe Solo in Yorkshire. Joe has been writing and recording original and thoughtful political songs since 1987 and is just one of the many talented artists who contributed to the Orgreave Truth and Justice CD with his superb No Pasaran, the true story of Jack Atkinson, a lorry driver from Hull who volunteered for the International Brigades. 

They discussed the horror unfolding before their eyes and “we wanted to voice our opposition to this Tory rule and give people something to work towards, to get a bit of positive energy flowing again,” Joe explained to me.

They came up with a simple idea but one that will have a lasting effect. “We wanted a number of local events up and down the UK, but under a national banner of ‘We Shall Overcome.’ “I suppose it’s easier to look at it as one big festival with a whole bunch of stages in completely different towns, all booked and organised locally, but a part of a whole.”

 But it’s not just about entertainment is it, I ask Joe. “No, we want the events to be free entry, but request provisions collected for local foodbanks as admission. With over a million people receiving three days’ emergency food and support in the last year alone it just made sense to do it that way.”

Joe goes on to explain what happened then. “First up we decided on the weekend of October 2, 3 and 4 and sent it out on social media. The response was instant. “By the end of the first day we had gigs booked in London, Hartlepool, Sheffield and Ulverston with a couple of dozen more towns and cities in the pipeline. 

“Thee Faction immediately organised a gig with Interrobang in London, The Hurriers dived in too. We want to encourage anybody and everybody to get involved. If you are a musician, a poet, a speaker, a venue or promoter and want to add your own event just search ‘We Shall Overcome’ weekend on Facebook and join the group and tell us what you have in mind. We’ll add it to the listings and help share it. It doesn’t matter how big or small, what matters is that you organise something locally that is a part of a movement nationally. 

“The point we are trying to get across is that your town matters, your streets can come alive with just a little bit of effort and what you do can be a part of something bigger rather than being isolated — to stand up and be counted, to show your defiance in a constructive way en masse, because together we are stronger.”

Although social media at times can be a place to cocoon yourself from the real world, it is also liberating when used in such a way as this. Things are now happening at an incredible pace. A logo has been designed, more and more bands, artists and performers are getting involved.

Joe is as convinced as I am that we are witnessing a real movement of  performers who now understand the role of popular culture in protest and are committed not just to fame but to getting their messages across.

Joe says: “Music still has a part to play in politics. I’ve been singing for nearly 30 years and although things in the industry have changed massively since then, music will always have the power to communicate ideas and inspire emotions in ways nothing else can. We have a long struggle ahead over the next five years and times will get very hard for a lot of people, but by all working together at something positive, it might just help some people light their way through it.”

• Joe Solo can be found at joesolomusic.bandcamp.com. The events to date are in: Burnley, Dingwall, London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Dundee, Hartlepool, York, Scunthorpe, Leeds, Bradford, Middlesbrough, Whitby, Ulverston, Sheffield, Stockton-on-Tees, Newcastle, Liverpool, Widnes, Pontypool, Barnsley, Welwyn Garden City, Ashton-under-Lyne, Todmorden and Glossop, with more in the pipeline.
  8 We Shall Overcome T-shirts are available from www.philosophyfootball.com or to bulk buy for promotion from Vortex Clothing Company (liam@vortexuk.com).