We recently collaborated with Norwich's finest, The Common Lot, on a series of shows called 'Songs of Hope and Protest' – of which you'll hear and read much more on this site in future updates.

At the final show, we were lucky enough to encounter Gillian Bartlam, née Dickinson, who introduced us to a truly brilliant and pioneering album from 1972: Either/Or by Everyone Involved, featuring Gillian on lead vocals alongside a wide collective of musicians. Its songs of environmental protest, gender politics, and outspoken gay pride are well ahead of their time.

Listen below and check out reviews here and here.

Even closer to our heart is this new release from friend-of-OSV and storied song scholar Vic Gammon, whose eco-protest paean 'Ash and Alder' pulls off the trick of sounding both ancient and entirely contemporary, as Vic and Sheila Gammon's vocals intone a whole history of England via its threatened species of tree. The original (below) is available on CD from Vic, who provides lyrics here. There's also a stirring live cover by Pete Coe here.

To the right is a little bonus: the latest track by one of our recent interviewees, the truly inspiring Kimwei.

Meanwhile, you've not stopped writing in. Steve Price's 'Redistribution of Power' (2015) is an exceptional example of the trend for sampling politicians' speeches and throwing their empty words back in their faces. It's bitterly amusing, and catchy as anything. Steve adds:

In the 2015 General Election I stood as an independent socialist candidate in the constituency of Central Devon, where I took on our local Tory MP Mel Stride. Despite having no chance of winning whatsoever I did it so I could share a platform with him and take him to task in front of a local public audience at hustings events. As part of my campaign I released a protest song called 'Redistribution Of Power', featuring Nick Clegg and David Cameron on vocals. Please note Cameron's vocals are not edited, everything he says in the song are from a speech he made when he was banging on about his Big Society thing.

If you're after something less raucous and more contemplative, we can recommend Roger Thorp's series of song films, addressing Brexit, the state of the nation, and (with Nick Rye) the oil industry. More impressionistic than programmatic, they're well worth a watch as well as a listen. If his sentiments strike a chord, you may also wish to explore his Olive Network, which Roger describes as 'new media for a kinder era'.

Want something a little peppier? @thetigerwho suggests the late Michael B Robbins' 'Oh Albion', which marries elegiac lyrics to a sprightly electro backing, recorded in the early 1980s. Another great example of Norwich's noble tradition of political song. There's plenty more to explore on his bandcamp page.

Finally, we're delighted (and a little bit giddy) to have the approval of Tom Robinson himself, who particularly recommends from our list, along with well-known works on the 250, Riz Ahmed's 'Englistan' and Asian Dub Foundation's 'Fortress Europe'.

Tom has also pointed us to the work of the acclaimed author and songwriter Dean Atta, whom he describes as:

a man on a mission whose powerful reflections on race, identity and sexuality make him one of the most outspoken social commentators of his musical generation.

Though based in Glasgow, Dean Atta is London-born, so he definitely counts! Tom singles out his song 'Nobody's N*****' – and with good reason: it's a sobering and beautiful track in the spirit of Linton Kwesi Johnson. PLEASE NOTE: obviously the N-word is all over this recording – in the hope that it won't continue to be used in many more by other, less aware artists. Here's a live performance from nearly a decade ago, sans musical backing track, from Atta's first visit to the US. It's a great place to end – for now. Meanwhile, don't stop sending us songs!