'3 acres and a cow' - a group of young people retelling the history of land rights and protest in folk song, story and poetry had invited us to collaborate on their gig at the New Mechanics in Nottingham.

('3 acres and a cow' was the slogan of the British land reformers and campaigners of the 1880s against rural poverty.)

It was a full house in the ballroom at the Mechanics and a very warm and receptive audience. The performers Roo Bramley and Tim Ralphs delivered their storytelling with panache, a banjo and some props. We heard about tenant farmers and people faced with evictions from their land and fighting for their rights, starting from the Norman Conquest via the Peasants’ Revolt, the Enclosures, the English Civil War, the Irish Land League and the Industrial Revolution to present-day poll tax riots and the housing crisis of today.

The audience joined in heartily with the many songs, and the choir introduced the second half with three of our own songs relating to the theme of losing one’s home and land in present day struggles as that of the Palestinians, the refugee catastrophe and people standing up to our common land being abused by fracking.

As it is one of our 30th anniversary aims to join up with young activists and campaigners, we were happy to team up with '3 acres and a cow' on this occasion and look forward to do it again in the future!

Beeston, Saturday 5th May, 2018

Now that was a proper May Day! Blue skies, blossoming trees, smiling families, people sitting on the grass and SUN...lots of it!

We gathered near the west entrance of the university campus, with banners, placards, song sheets and voices ready. Marching to Broadgate Park, we sang our first songs and encouraged the other marchers to join in with 'If you think the NHS is safe, think again' and "The Anti-cuts song'.

On through the High Street and to The White Lion, where the garden was the perfect place to refresh solidarity, enjoy the sunshine and be entertained with thought provoking words from The DIY Poets including our very own Andrew Martin. There were rousing speeches from, among others, the prospective Labour candidates for Rushcliffe and Broxtowe. Watch out Ken Clarke and Anna Soubry, this was serious stuff.

Our planned set list was shortened because of the number of speakers but what a perfect occasion to finish with The Red Flag and The Internationale!

On a wet and stormy evening we performed at The Session - a music and beer festival in the upstairs room at Bunkers Hill in Hockley.

We were greeted with excellent food and great beer. Other performers included the excellent Julie and Alisa Russel and the inspirational and spellbinding Rubaiyat.

Despite having no warm up (there was nowhere inside, and with the rain lashing down outside any attempt to force us to gather there would have led to a mutiny), we were in surprisingly good voice and thoroughly enjoyed the evening.