Carnival against the Nazis
Object
Poster
Production date
1978
Object number
2014.385
Physical Description
Rock Against Racism/Anti Nazi League 1978 Carnival Poster
Object history
A poster advertising the April, 1978 London “CARNIVAL” sponsored by Rock Against Racism and the Anti-Nazi League with bands Clash, Buzzcocks, Steel Pulse and X-Ray Spex
"In spring 1978, 100,000 people marched six miles from (London’s) Trafalger Square to the East End of London (a National Front hotspot) for an open-air music festival at Victoria Park in Hackney organized by RAR and the Anti-Nazi League to counteract the growing wave of racist attacks in the UK. The concert featured The Clash, Buzzcocks, Steel Pulse, X-Ray Spex, The Ruts, Sham 69, Generation X and the Tom Robinson Band. The Southall based reggae band Misty In Roots led the march from the back of a lorry (truck) during the carnival, although they did not appear on the main stage.”
There were two posters for this event; the first listed the Tom Robinson Band and Steel Pulse and this one, the second (very similar in design) added X-Ray Spex (all of the other bands signed on afterward and didn’t appear on any posters.) The posters were printed on newsprint and machine folded; most were pasted up on walls, and few survived. Designed by David King.
"In spring 1978, 100,000 people marched six miles from (London’s) Trafalger Square to the East End of London (a National Front hotspot) for an open-air music festival at Victoria Park in Hackney organized by RAR and the Anti-Nazi League to counteract the growing wave of racist attacks in the UK. The concert featured The Clash, Buzzcocks, Steel Pulse, X-Ray Spex, The Ruts, Sham 69, Generation X and the Tom Robinson Band. The Southall based reggae band Misty In Roots led the march from the back of a lorry (truck) during the carnival, although they did not appear on the main stage.”
There were two posters for this event; the first listed the Tom Robinson Band and Steel Pulse and this one, the second (very similar in design) added X-Ray Spex (all of the other bands signed on afterward and didn’t appear on any posters.) The posters were printed on newsprint and machine folded; most were pasted up on walls, and few survived. Designed by David King.
Associated Event
Rock against Racism
Associated Organisation
Rock against Racism (Sponsor)
Associated Person
King, David (Designer)
Material
Paper
Dimension
Height: 915mm
Width: 652mm
Width: 652mm
Exhibition Label
From the exhibition 'Hackney@50: The People's Choice' [12 February - 29 August 2015]
Rock against Racism was a campaign set up in 1976 as a response to the increase in racial conflict and the growth of right-wing nationalist groups such as the National Front. The campaign involved musicians staging concerts with an anti-racist theme. 100,000 people marched six miles from Trafalgar Square, through Hackney to an open-air music festival in Victoria Park.
"Me and my wife joined the march to Victoria Park on 30 April 1978 near Shoreditch, and were simply overwhelmed not only by the size of the demonstration, but by the extraordinary mix of people carrying home-made banners: Rastafarians, punks, teeny-boppers, anarchists and earnest Christians, all mixed up together. We had never seen anything like it before, or since. It was spontaneous, heartfelt and magnificent - one of the truly great demonstrations in London's long history."
Chosen and donated by Ken Worpole
Rock against Racism was a campaign set up in 1976 as a response to the increase in racial conflict and the growth of right-wing nationalist groups such as the National Front. The campaign involved musicians staging concerts with an anti-racist theme. 100,000 people marched six miles from Trafalgar Square, through Hackney to an open-air music festival in Victoria Park.
"Me and my wife joined the march to Victoria Park on 30 April 1978 near Shoreditch, and were simply overwhelmed not only by the size of the demonstration, but by the extraordinary mix of people carrying home-made banners: Rastafarians, punks, teeny-boppers, anarchists and earnest Christians, all mixed up together. We had never seen anything like it before, or since. It was spontaneous, heartfelt and magnificent - one of the truly great demonstrations in London's long history."
Chosen and donated by Ken Worpole
On display?
No
Inscription
TOM ROBINSON BAND
STEEL PULSE & X-RAY SPEX
RALLY SUNDAY APRIL 30
11a.m. TRAFALGAR SQUARE
MARCH TO VICTORIA PARK
Anti Nazi League
-
CARNIVAL!!!!!
AGAINST THE NAZIS
ORGANISED BY ANTI NAZI LEAGUE, 12 LITTLE NEWPORT STREET, LONDON WC2, TOGETHER WITH ROCK AGAINST RACISM.
HACKNEY CAMPAIGN AGAINST RACISM, HACKNEY CRC, AND TOWER HAMLETS MOVEMENT AGAINST RACISM & FASCISM.
STEEL PULSE & X-RAY SPEX
RALLY SUNDAY APRIL 30
11a.m. TRAFALGAR SQUARE
MARCH TO VICTORIA PARK
Anti Nazi League
-
CARNIVAL!!!!!
AGAINST THE NAZIS
ORGANISED BY ANTI NAZI LEAGUE, 12 LITTLE NEWPORT STREET, LONDON WC2, TOGETHER WITH ROCK AGAINST RACISM.
HACKNEY CAMPAIGN AGAINST RACISM, HACKNEY CRC, AND TOWER HAMLETS MOVEMENT AGAINST RACISM & FASCISM.