Brighton is widely known as a rather liberal, forward-thinking city which is often ahead of the curve in terms of activism and protests. The war in Gaza is a recent issue which has seen ubiquitous activism across the city and the founding of many new fundraising groups, as well as frequent protests and marches in the city centre.
The city’s history of activism has been demonstrated by the arrests of members of the suffragette movement at the Brighton Dome in 1910, and one of the country’s earliest and most significant pride marches in 1973. It seems the city’s population are always ready to push for change and welcome it when it comes.
As a city with a prolific and well-known music scene, it seems natural that there would be a marriage of music and activism amongst the multitude of young bands and sweaty, cramped venues across the city. REVOLT is a local charity that holds gig nights across the city in renowned venues like Daltons and Green Door Store, hosting local artists and donating all proceeds to Medical Aid Palestinians. Having been established over 2 years, they’ve built a name for themselves in the scene and have raised a respectable £8,741.95 from ticket sales, as of the 2nd March.
Marc Gurney is one member of a surprisingly small team responsible for putting on these nights across the city. “I think the biggest thing is just building something that brings people together”, Marc says. “It started pretty small, but over time it’s grown into a proper community around the gigs – we’ve given a lot of artists a space to play who might not always get booked”.
Brighton’s vibrant music scene accommodates the nights – “I think because it sits at that crossover of music and activism, it naturally pulls in people who are already engaged or curious about both”.
“With Gaza, it’s not like we’re running talks or anything, but it’s always present. Bands often speak on it, and it keeps it in people’s minds in a way that feels natural rather than forced. So, while it’s about fundraising, it’s also about not letting people switch off from it,” he says.
In terms of the age range of attendees, “It’s a mixed demographic that attend the shows which is nice, but it definitely leans younger with a lot of students.”
For an issue that easily seems so distant and removed from the daily lives of many, in Brighton, residents have found a way to put a positive light on a serious issue like the Gaza conflict and use it as an opportunity to bring people together, raise awareness and promote change as a community.
