The "Northern Rock Against Racism Carnival.

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All photos and images unless stated © Chris Hewitt www.deeplyvale.com/

On the Saturday around 35,000 people watched Steel Pulse, Buzzcocks, Exodus and China Street after a massive Anti Nazi League Rock Against Racism march through Manchester.

We had to complete the build of the stage early for the Thursday the 13th as Graham Parker wanted to rehearse for his forthcoming support slot at the Blackbushe concert with Dylan on the Saturday- we took all the stage and backstage compound and generators and PA from Alexandra Park up to Deeply Vale after the RAR concert on the 15th July at Alexandra Park

Chris Hewitt, OZIT records

Originally the anti-Nazi League together with Rock Against planned for three days of music in Alexandra Park, but due to lack of organisation on the part of the ANL , there ended up being only two, with Friday being the casualty .

The first day of the action, Thursday the 13th , was timed to coincide with a by election in nearby Moss Side which had a National Front candidate standing .This show originally had a bill comprising of the Smirks, John Cooper-Clarke, The Fall and Graham Parker And The Rumour, but poor coordination between the organisers resulted in a initial cancellation of the concert , due to the fact that the council has been told that there was only going to be ONE day of music- the Saturday. Last minute arrangements were made after the organises appealed to the councils better nature , as it was too late to advertise that the event was cancelled. It was decided that the concert could go ahead, but with a limited bill, Graham Parker would play but all the other acts were told that their appearances were cancelled.
Confusion still reigned in the late afternoon as the plod arrived and announced that there would be no music ( the council hadn’t had time to inform them of the new plans) this was soon sorted once someone form the council talked to the police, but then Graham Parker announced that he needed someone to try out the sound system before him. He wasn't prepared to fall flat on his face sound wise. Luckily for the audience , the Smirks, who had been told they were not going to play , had hung around - presumably to watch Parker,so they did a short set before the Rumour and all was well.

About 5,000 bods turned up for the evening show and Parker had a good reception. Organisation had been a bit of a farce in some ways but at least the stage and PA system (provided by the Deeply Vale Free festival organisers ) had been tested in preparation for the main event on Friday and shown to work well. However, the council’s good will did not extend to the planned Friday night show, which was intended to showcase local bands. An alternative venue was found in town and a benefit was held featuring the RIch Kids and the Fall, which was poorly attended due to the late notice and lack of publicity.

Hangin' in the park before the show © Geoff Brown/Bernie Wilcox/Chris Hewitt

The march to Alexandra Park began after a series of short speeches by various luminaries and after this an estimated crowd of 18,000 made their way from Strangeways prison and began arriving at the park at around 2.30. Such a large crowd took a long time to arrive at the venue and this caused a bit of friction backstage- the usual rock and roll tantrums thrown by managers .In addition, one of the bands was arguing about the running order, but eventually all egos were satisfied. The order finally arrived at was: Exodus ,Buzzcocks ,China Street and Steel Pulse . By the time all the marchers arrived , boosted by those who simply were there to see the bands, it was estimated that around 30,000 were present .Exodus played a somewhat subdued set, the more experienced Buzzcocks were received well by the mostly white crowd , many of whom left after the Buzzcocks played .

Those who remained saw Steel Pulse , joined onstage by members of China Street , (veterans of many Rock against Racism concerts ) play a great set , delivered to a hard core of black fans clustered close round the stage grokking heavily to the massive bass . The encore 'Klu Klux Klan', was a combined effort – with members of China Street, Exodus and the Buzzcocks playing together – all united against racism. A symbolic end to a momentous day , which -following the pathetic showing of the National front candidate in the by election, would have given those who attended a feeling of unity and comparative strength against the minority of loathsome shits who composed the National Front.

Courtesy Chris Hewitt www.deeplyvale.com/

Constructing the stage © Geoff Brown/Bernie Wilcox/Chris Hewitt,

Bob Jones onstage at the RAR show, he filmed this and the 1981 concert .

The Buzzcocks at Alexandra Park, the Deeply Vale Free festival stage was used to host the bands.

A Buzzcock at Alexandra Park 1978

35.000 watch the Buzzcocks in the park

Afterwards, the usual rubbish left to clean up...