Description

Mixing Pop and Politics is not a history of political music, but a political history of popular music.

Spanning the early 50s to the present, it shows how, from doo-wop to hip-hop, punk to crunk and grunge to grime, music has both reflected and resisted the political events of its era. Mixing Pop and Politics explores the connections between popular music and political ideology, whether that?s the liberation of rock?n?roll or the containment of girl groups, the refusal of glam or the resignation of soft rock, the solidarity of disco or the individualism of 80s pop.

At a time when reactionary forces are waging political war in the realm of culture, and we?re being told to keep politics out of music, Mixing Pop and Politics is a timely, original and joyful exploration of popular music?s role in our society.

Author Toby Manning is a writer on popular culture and popular music, and has written for Red Pepper, NME, The Big Issue, The Guardian, The Word, The Independent, Q, New Statesman and The Quietus. He is also the author of the Rough Guide to Pink Floyd (Penguin, 2006), and John le Carre and the Cold War (Bloomsbury, 2018).

Toby will be in conversation today with The Dublin Castle Rock And Roll Book Club?s very own Alison Beale. DJ Tony Bugbear supplies the soundtrack as prompted by the text.

Description

The Dublin Castle is a legendary pub and music venue located 2 minutes away from Camden Town tube station. It has been run by the same family for over 28 years and features 4 live bands every night as well as a great selection of beers, ciders and wines.

There are DJs after the bands on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and a fabulous jukebox in the front bar if you’re after a more relaxed atmosphere.

But what is it that makes the Dublin Castle the long-standing centre of the indie rock universe? Is it because it’s Madness’ birthplace? Because its stage has been graced by everyone from Blur, through Coldplay, Supergrass, The Killers, The Arctic Monkeys, Billy Bragg, etc? Is it because it was no surprise to see Amy Winehouse behind the bar serving costumers? Or Suggs? (who, mind you, tended to ignore costumers and serve himself) Or is it because far from being just another Camden venue it has established itself as an indie rock institution? The answer is that it’s not only because of its musical heritage that people come to the Dublin Castle, it’s because whilst you enjoy a pint, play some tunes on the jukebox, check out the live bands, get your dancing shoes on for our DJs, chat to our friendly staff or even stage-invade a little, you’re inadvertently being part of this movement the Dublin Castle leads, this cultural legacy. Expect no castle battlements. Just pure rock and roll royalty.

94 Parkway,

Camden Town,

Greater London,

England,

NW1 7AN.

020 7485 1773