The Young'uns

To King's Place in London this evening to see The Young'uns perform The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff. A true account of a young lad from the North East who went on the hunger marches to London in the 1930s, took part in The Battle of Cable Street to prevent Mosley's fascist blackshirts marching through the Jewish East End of London, volunteered for the International Brigades fighting Franco in Spain and continued to fight fascism in thr London Rifles from 1940 to 1945. An incredibly vivid story excellently brought to life by the Young'uns interspersed with taped reminiscences from Mr Longstaff himself. It is depressing that the lessons of history are so easily forgotten by those who seek to divide and demonise to achieve power. Sean Cooney of yhe Young'uns is a brilliant songwriter in the ballad tradition of narrating true stories through verse. David Eagle was in usual fine form but the third member of the group, Michael Hughes, wasn't there. I know he is a teacher and presumably cannot get away to more distant venues during term time. His very able replacement this evening was Sam Carter, who is a celebrated folk singer in his own right. A great night and, for once, we were in the balcony at King's Place - the extra shows the view from my seat before the show started.