next event Thursday 1st May 2025 6-45pm-10pm @ Gills Bar and Banqueting Whitmore Reans WV6 0QQ all free except the bar
Wolverhampton Wednesday 1st May 2024
Free veggie food served by the Indian Workers Association
plus stalls, mehndi, bouncy castle and special May Day ales.
May Day speakers:
Roger McKenzie –
originally from Walsall, has done all jobs in the trade union movement from the day he started work as a painter and decorator: subs collector, shop steward, regional union officer and official for PCS, Secretary of Midlands TUC, then led UNISON West Midlands before becoming Assistant General Secretary of UNISON, serving on the TUC General Council. He’s been a Labour Councillor and constituency secretary in Islington and the General Secretary of Liberation. He is now the International Editor for the Morning Star and a member of the national Executive of the Communist Party. He writes the email podcast
The Red Star Dispatch (Anti-colonialism, equality, peace and socialism, you can subscribe here
https://labourlist.org/2020/10/interview-with-roger-mckenzie-racism-is-the-other-pandemic-taking-place/ and https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/08/roger-mckenzie-if-we-are-not-organised-we-cannot-win/
Ashik Mohammed Nazar
Indian Workers’ Association GB National Youth Officer and a Member of the Central Executive Committee. He lives in Birmingham and is also a member of the Loka Kerala Sabha representing the Indian diaspora of Britain with Kerala State Assembly.
Councillor Iqra Tahir is the St Peters ward Labour councillor for Whitmore Reans
https://wolverhampton.moderngov.co.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=4299
Azaad Dhol Group www.facebook.com/pg/Azaad-ArtsDhol-Group-187261758011068 The group consists of students of various ages, from 7 to 21 years, who come from diverse backgrounds across Wolverhampton and Birmingham. Over the last 20 years hundreds of pupils have learnt from Harjit and some have moved on to play at semi-professional levels within the Indian Music Industry. First formed in 2002 with the aim of involving and teaching young musicians the various aspects of traditional Punjabi Folk Music, also known as ‘Lok Geet’. Harjit Singh, founder and director of Azaad Dhol Group, is Head of World Music for Services For Education and a long serving tutor at Wolverhampton Music Service. He has over 30 years of specialist experience in playing & teaching the Tabla, Dholak and Dhol.
Azaad Dhol Group was created following the success of the Punjabi pop band ‘Azaad’ in the 80’s and 90’s. Harjit Singh, Jag Saini & Indi Bains founders of the Azaad Dhol Group, where professional percussionists for the acclaimed pop band. After the band retired, Harjit & Jag decided to share their musical talent through teaching.
Headliners: The Tenbags, a folk/punk outfit hailing from Birmingham, with original Boozy Brummie Ballads and traditional Woozy Wailers. They have been performing in support of a Palestine ceasefire in recent months.
https://thetenbags.bandcamp.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheTenbags
Local artist, Abba the musical poet performed
One Love International reggae sound system has been a long time supporters of Wolverhampton May 1st events
https://www.megaphone.org.uk/events/wolverhampton-workers-day-may-day-wednesday-1st-may-2024
https://www.wherecanwego.com/item/e1513445/wolverhampton-may-day