The first speaker at the rally was Gordon Munro talking on behalf of the International Brigade Memorial Trust – here’s his speech.
Over the next few days we’ll be publishing some of the music and all of the speeches from the May Day events. First up are the wonderful Gallo Rojo who were on stage for the start of the rally after the march.
The four page brochure has just been printed. It will be available at the Pete Seeger event on Friday evening, at the march on Saturday and the book fair on Sunday.
Assemble Johnston Terrace 11.30am, Saturday May 4th
The march begins at midday – moving off down the Royal Mile
Arrives at The Pleasance around 12.30pm
Rally begins in the Pleasance Theatre with music from Gallo Rojo at 12.45pm
Rally
From 12.30pm – 2.30pm there are stalls in the Pleasance Cabaret Bar. The main rally is upstairs in the Pleasance Theatre – don’t miss Gallo Rojo who kick things off at 12.45pm. Approximate times:
12.45pm Gallo Rojo – Anti-fascist songs from Gallo Rojo a collective of Spanish and Scottish musicians
1.00pm Gordon Munro – International Brigade Memorial Trust
1.10pm Music from Penny Stone (Edinburgh CND)
1.20pm Maddie Lou Barink – Living Rent
1.30pm Music from Calum Baird
1.40pm Jackson Cullinane – Vice-President STUC
1.55pm More music from Gallo Rojo
To date we have received donations to support the 2019 march and rally from:
Fire Brigade Union
Edinburgh Trades Union Council
UNITE Edinburgh Retired Members
Midlothian EIS
Edinburgh and District NUJ
Musicians Union
Midlothian Trades Union Council
UNISON Midlothian
GMB Scotland
UNITE Edinburgh Area Activists
EIS Edinburgh
RMT Scottish Committee
Many thanks to all these organisations. If you are a member of a trade union branch that’s not on the list please consider asking your branch for a donation. For details of payment etc contact the treasurer at email robplynl@hotmail.com
Join the climate jobs bloc on the Edinburgh May Day March
We’ll be meeting 7pm – 8pm, Monday 5th March at the Epworth Halls on Nicolson Square. Open to anyone who wants to help with organising the May Day Events.
Categories
May Day Book Fair
A new addition to the May Day events this year is the May Day Book Fair. We’re delighted that Lighthouse Books is organising this as part of the events around May Day. It will be held in Leith on Sunday May 5th – more details soon but in the meantime you can check out the Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1986196141479141/
We are delighted to be working with the Story Telling Centre again this year.
SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE MAYDAY EVENTS Book on: www.scottishstorytellingcentre.com/events
Fri 3 May | 7.30pm – 10pm | £12 (£10) (£9.50 SCS)
Pete Seeger 100: Which Side Are You On?
Folk legend Pete Seeger was born 100 years ago. To celebrate the life and times of this singer, songwriter and campaigner for social and environmental justice, Finlay Allison and Jimmy Ross have put together a new and expanded edition of their successful show. They are joined once more by fiddler and former Young Traditional Musician of the Year,Gillian Frame and singer/songwriter and peace campaigner, Penny Stone.
Sat 4 May | 3pm – 4.30pm | £10 (£8) (£7.50 SCS) | Music and Storytelling
Pith and Power: Words to help History Happen
Scotland’s politics have long been shaped or influenced by the lyricist, dramatic poet or storyteller. This workshop explores the affinity between politics and social change in Scotland and the nation’s stories and songs. And what might be the untold stories and songs to be sung as Scotland’s goes into Brexit. Join songwriter and musicianDick Gaughan , and performance poet and writer Jenny Lindsay for an afternoon exploring polemic or inspiring words. Hosted by Donald Smith. ‘If a man were permitted to make all the ballads, he need not care who should make the laws of a nation’ Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun.
Sun 5 May | 7.30pm – 10pm | £12 (£10) (£9.50 SCS)
Hamish Henderson 100: A Ceilidh Come All Ye
As part of the Hamish Henderson 100 celebrations this year, the Scottish Storytelling Centre and TRACS are delighted to host a relaxed Ceilidh Come All Ye, featuring a host of friends to celebrate the songs, poems, influences and memories of the leading light in Scotland’s 20th Century Folk Revival.
Image CC0 by Pete Cannell Mummers on the 2018 march https://www.flickr.com/photos/petepolitics/sets/72157693337176372
Edinburgh and Lothians May Day 