Jan 9: 'Hollow Point'

There is a long tradition of folk music and folk musicians exploring and challenging injustice - whether that be workers' rights, working conditions in the collieries, the treatment of Dust Bowl era migrants, trade unions or the state. I will feature some of these musicians on the blog, including people I saw performing such as Dick Gaughan.

We have had over a year now of Trump 2.0 which has dismantled many of the key elements of US society and protections for its landscapes and environment.

The videos coming out of Minneapolis in the last day, and the stance of the government in the face of video evidence is shocking.

Some on social media saw some parallels with an event which happened in London in 2005.

Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead on July the 22nd 2005 by armed officers who were on high alert following the London bombings that had happened just a few weeks earlier, on July 7th 2005 and additional failed bombing attempts the previous day. Mistakes were made in the surveillance and the order that he should be detained before entering the tube station didn't reach the right people in time.

Chris Wood's song 'Hollow Point' explores the lead up to the event, and the 'inevitability' of what would happen despite the fact that Jean Charles wore only a thin cotton jacket. The pace of the song speeds up towards the end as the conclusion draws nearer... there is no stopping it it seems. The rhythm and intonation of the song adds atmosphere and tension. It's an emotional response to the events.

I saw Chris Wood play with Andy Cutting many years ago in a small venue. A lovely evening.

Twenty years on the family are still seeking justice as no one has yet been held accountable.

This performance at the Folk Awards of 2011 is remarkable.

Chris won the award for Best Original Song for "Hollow Point" and Folk Singer of the Year in 2011.

This website has produced an interesting learning resource about the use of language in the song. There are some accompanying downloads as well. This is not necessarily for use in a geography lesson, but I can see some interesting ideas here to adapt, for example, they suggest following the route that was taken that day.

This blog describes the importance of folk music in capturing details of events which will still be sung about in 100 years time... it has a permanence, an oral tradition.

What other songs of protest are you aware of, and which have an impact on you? 

Let me know using the Google Form below - more to come on this topic later on the blog...