Hi everyone,
just want to wish you all a very happy, peaceful and diverse Christmas and New Year from team LMHR-NI

Thanks to all the groups, individuals, bands, artists and volunteers for your continued support and encouragement. Let's keep fighting the good fight, and work towards making our communities free of racism and sectarianism.

There's a lot of work to be done, including closing down the BNP Call Centre in Dundonald. It can be done, and the more people that get involved, the more awareness we can raise, and the more we can educate through the power of music and art.

The Melting Pot Christmas party last Thursday was the most amazing example of how music can bring people together. There were people from ALL communities having the most amazing time. We were so humbled by peoples generosity, and were able to donate boxes and boxes of gifts to the NI Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers. We want to keep raising awareness about the great work that groups like NICRAS are doing, so get involved because there are LMHR groups all over Ireland and the UK.

"I think people ought to know that we're anti-fascist, we're anti violence, we're anti anti-racist and we're pro-creative. We're against ignorance". - Joe Strummer

See you all next year!
Lots of love from
Team LMHR

Christmas Party and Appeal for NI Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Melting Pot Christmas Party, and Gift Appeal for NICRAS.

Imagine being alone, destitute, see your children go without, and feel lost in a strange place, it’s a heartbreaking thought, and at Christmas things can be even tougher.

Asylum seekers and refugees are one of the most marginalised, impoverished, discriminated against and lied about groups. The vast majority are here because they were forced to flee injury and death in their own countries. The three countries that most of them come from are Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - the most unsafe countries in the world. Many of them wait for years before their applications for asylum are decided. They are not allowed to work, and they are not allowed to claim benefits. If they can show that they are destitute then they are given 70% of the lowest rate of income support. If they are homeless then they are provided with accommodation - often a room in a shared house. They can be detained at any time by immigration officers. They are separated from their families and friends. Many do not speak the language and suffer desperate isolation and loneliness. They also suffer racist attacks often fuelled by the lies told about them. Many of them have children who suffer the same fate as their parents.

There comes a time of year in every faith when we are asked to stop and think about others, and since Christmas is the most recognised tradition for doing so locally, LMHR have launched an appeal for gifts for the NI Community for Refugees and Asylum Seekers to be distributed to the families they have been working with, and supporting over the last year.

Between now and the next Melting Pot gig which takes place on Thursday 17th December at The Menagerie, you can donate a Christmas gift by either bringing it along on the night or by dropping it into your nearest allocated drop in centre, which will be collected and donated to NICRAS on the 18th December. (details below).

The Christmas Melting Pot on the 17th will continue to celebrate the diversity of music and people, and for the month of December we will have an African vibe with performances from two of the North’s most popular Afrobeat bands, Talking Drum and The Afresh. There will also be a debut acoustic performance from Reggae artist Rassie Ai, plus some interactive drumming that will include you the audience (anyone with a drum bring it along), and as resident DJ Venus Rollergirl will be back in the driving seat she will be knocking out everything from dub to reggae and ska.

Barbara Muldoon who is a Spokesperson for the Anti Racism Network and an Asylum and Immigration Law Practitioner says “In 2009 LMHR was one of the foremost groups in Northern Ireland highlighting and challenging the deeply poisonous effects of racism and promoting and celebrating the strength and cultural enrichment of a multi-cultural and diverse society. This is a fitting event to end the year and a particularly fitting event to have at Christmas. It reminds us that the men, women and children who live in Northern Ireland as asylum seekers and refugees are the innocent victims of the violence and wars raging across the planet. They don’t deserve condemnation and racist abuse - they deserve our heartfelt human solidarity”.

You can bring your unwrapped gift along on the night or you can drop it in to one of the following allocated drop in centres.

NICRAS, One Vision Offices, 129 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 1SH

www.nicras.org.uk

Community Arts Forum, 15 Church Street, Belfast, BT1 1PG

www.caf.ie

The Beat Initiative/Belfast Carnival Office, 11-47 Boyd Street, Belfast, BT13 2GU

www.belfastcarnival.com

Oh Yeah Music Centre, 15-21 Gordon Street, Belfast, BT1 2LG

www.ohyeahbelfast.com

Feile An Phobail, 473 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6DD

www.feilebelfast.com

Windsor Womens Centre, 133 Broadway, Belfast, BT12 6HY

www.windsorwomanscentre.co.uk

Any business's that would like to donate any stock, please e-mail us at

love_music_hate_racism_ireland@yahoo.co.uk  - and we will arrange collection

Thank you everyone, and we hope you can help, and don't forget the Christmas gig on Thursday 17th at the Menagerie!

www.myspace.com/talkingdrumireland 

www.myspace.com/sekuruandtheafreshband 

www.myspace.com/rassieai2

Rockin against Racism at The Menagerie

Last week’s Melting Pot was another rockin night.

We loved The Swell Time Western Swing and Country Jazz Band. Watching them was like stepping back in time, their sense of style, attitude, and originality of a particular era of music, is something that no other local band we know of has tapped into or experimented with. Guitar and vocalist Hornby is a fan of American trio Hot Club of Cowtown and in particular their guitarist Whit Smith, who is also influenced by Bob Wills, a musician of the 1930's and 40's that is widely considered as one of the fathers of Western Swing.

It was a pleasure working with them and we salute them for bringing something old fashioned yet entirely fresh to live music in Belfast.

Here Comes The Landed Gentry were in fine form as always, they ripped through their rockabilly garage blues set with the usual confidence and swagger that we have become accustomed to, then jetted off for a three night date with the good people of London.

The Bonnevilles are a two piece from Lurgan that manage to create the energy of a five piece with devastating effect. They are loud, raw, and influenced by the roughest, baddist, and most defiant side of rock and roll. The ultimate garage punk blues mavericks that sit comfortably alongside fellow preachers of the faith such as The Black Keys, Souldad Brothers, T Model Ford or The Reverend Horton Heat. It was a rare treat from a band that doesn’t play half enough gigs in Belfast for our liking.

The Bonnevilles will be appearing at Sandinos in Derry on December 23rd. They have an album out called ‘Good Suits & Fightin’ Boots’ and they are currently working on new material that includes a song dedicated to the immigrant community in Ireland, so keep your ears peeled for that.

Another great night, thanks to all that came down, and thanks to everyone who put their name to the petition against the BNP call centre in Dundonald.

The next Melting Pot is back to a Thursday at The Menagerie on 17th December. It's the LMHR Christmas Party - more info very soon, but it's going to be different and it's going to be interactive and fun.

November Poster

The Melting Pot Present
The Bonnevilles
Here Comes The Landed Gentry
Swell Time
Wednesday 18th November
The Menagerie


Love Music Hate Racism is committed to combating racist ideas and stopping racist attacks. There were almost 1000 racist attacks in Northern Ireland last year, beyond that there were the specific attacks on the Roma families and the setting up of a British National Party (Nazi BNP) call centre in Dundonald.

LMHR is part of the campaign to welcome immigrants, to support communities like the Roma people who have been under attack, and to support the ARN's petition to close down the call centre.

The Melting Pot, our monthly club night, continues to celebrate the diversity of music and people - this month we're showcasing the incredible sounds of rockabilly, garage blues, and country swing on Wednesday 18th November.

Featuring three of the hottest bands around

The Bonnevilles
Here Comes The Landed Gentry
Swell Time
+DJ

Doors 9pm
4 quid in

November Melting Pot Wednesday 18th

The Melting Pot returns to The Menagerie on Wednesday 18th November, with a fantastic mix of garage blues, rockabilly and cowboy country.

Featuring:
The Bonnevilles
Here Comes The Landed Gentry
The Swell Time (Western Swing and Cowboy Jazz Band)

This one is gonna be hot and sweaty!

Melting Pot: celebrating the diversity of music and people.

Doors 9pm
£4

The Bonnevilles

Here Comes The Landed Gentry Myspace

Swell Time Myspace

Butterfly success

The Belfast City Hall reopening celebrations last Saturday afternoon were a huge success. We had a great time, major respect to The Beat Carnival team, who put blood, sweat, tears, fabric and paint into the preparations. The ariel Butterfly performance was amazing, the costumes were incredible, all the colours, people, participation - it brought a proud tear to our eye to see so many people brought together.

Up on the LMHR music stage we enjoyed the banter and scouse pop sensibilities of Colenso Parade who kicked things off to a flying start. The October Sun was surprisingly warm and the crowds just kept coming. Ten Gallon Hat and The Big Salute tipped their stetsons, and kicked their spurs into action with some enjoyable country rock, while Joe Lindsay played a rare and respectable family friendly DJ set, that kept us occupied during our picnic lunch. And of course as always Ruby Colley was mesmerising and flawless, playing her violin beautifully as the butterfly decent took place from the walls of the City Hall.

It was another great day of coming together, and a fantastic display of support for music, the arts and community harmony from the people of Belfast and beyond.

Until we get some footage of the day, check Ruby here to see what we mean...



and here...

Tomorrow Belfast City Hall

OK, sorry folks but the Melting Pot is postponed until November, we just ran out of time. But so much happening, and some exciting announcements to come, so stay tuned.

However we will be working at the Belfast City Hall reopening celebrations tomorrow. Live Music from 12 noon with Colenso Parade, DJ Joe Lindsay and Ten Gallon Hat.

Then at 3.10pm Fly Butterfly – an aerial spectacle performance on the City Hall façade and roof and in City Hall grounds with: a giant butterfly on the roof; aerial performers on the front wall; dancers and acrobatic ground performers; and Ruby Colley playing an original music soundtrack.

The Beat Carnival have put so much work into this, it's going to be amazing, come down and support an amazing piece of art, combined with music and a carnival atmosphere.


http://blog.belfastcarnival.com/

Belfast City Hall reopening events

OK folks we are delighted to announce that we have again teamed up with the Beat Carnival crew, this time for the Saturday 17th Oct reopening celebrations at Belfast City Hall.

From 12 noon - 3pm LMHR and Homely Planet Radio will be running the music stage in the grounds of City Hall.

Joining us will be scouse pop (all the way from Omagh!) indie band Colenso Parade, country rockers Ten Gallon Hat And The Big Salute, and BBC DJ Joe Lindsay.

Make a point of coming into town next Saturday because it's going to be amazing, particularly the aerial performers and giant roof top butterfly.

Fly Butterfly

An outdoor spectacle event for the reopening of Belfast City Hall, Caterpillars transform to butterflies on the City Hall wall – a giant butterfly opens its wings for flight Saturday 17th.

Programme 12.00 – 2.30pm Family Workshops in City Hall. Make butterflies to welcome the caterpillar and to use at final spectacle performance. Phone Beat to pre-book a 30 minute workshop session.

12.00pm Music Stage in City Hall grounds from noon. Love Music Hate Racism & Homely Planet Radio. Featured bands: Colenso Parade, Ten Gallon Hat and the Big Salute and DJ Joe Lindsay.

2.30 – 3.00pm. Caterpillar Parade Caterpillar dancers, street performers, drummers, puppets and community participants.
City Centre: Bank Square > Castle Junction > City Hall. 3.10pm Fly Butterfly – an aerial spectacle performance on the City Hall façade and roof and in City Hall grounds with: a giant butterfly on the roof; aerial performers on the front wall; dancers and acrobatic ground performers; and Ruby Colley playing an original music soundtrack.

3.30pm Music and Dance performance. Beat’n’Drum with carnival dance followed by the Carnival Beat Band with the Ireland Drummers.

The Melting Pot 24th Sept Pavilion

So last Thursday at the Pavilion, The Melting Pot was all about the punk rock and the ska. It was a specially organised night in celebration of The Clash, a band that were an integral part of the 'Rock Against Racism' movement during the late 1970's in the UK. For the occasion, LMHR-NI organiser, and former drummer with Stiff Little Fingers, Brian Faloon, put together a one off band as a tribute to the legends that helped shape his own musical journey.

Known as Burton Suits they ripped passionately and respectfully through old Clash favourites such as '(White Man)in Hammersmith Palais', 'Career Opportunities', 'London Calling', and to our delight they finished with a blistering version of 'Alternative Ulster'.

Audience suitably warmed up, Burton Suits stepped aside for the new generation of punks. From Enniskillen Momma's Slippers hit the stage full of youthful exuberance, swagger and attitude. Their front man Ant confident and uninhibited, encouraged stage invasions and acknowledged hero's like Rancid and The Ramones. Their bass player Jolene is awesome too, and we're guessing it's only a matter of time before we see them in Belfast again. Our only criticism is, we're not entirely sure about the band name.

Pocket Billiards were the original LMHR band, having played the first ever Belfast gig in 2004 at the Empire, they now return a band on the verge of a resurgence. The debut album has finally arrived, and the sound is bigger, braver, and more infectious than ever. Horn sections are tighter, and the songs bounced around the Pavilion along with the crowd. It's ska with a party attitude, and punk with a positive spin.

Pocket Billiards launch their album on the 10th October at The Black Box in Belfast, and we urge you to go.

At the end of the evening we encouraged people to sign the letter put together by the Anti Racism Network (see other post)to have the BNP call centre in Dundonald closed down.

We would like to thank BBC Radio Ulster DJ Stuart Bailie for supplying the tunes in the DJ box, and to our resident stalwart supporter and shit hot DJ, Venus Rollergirl, and of course to Mac, the sound engineer and all round top bloke.

Thank you also to the people that bought our t-shirts.

Want to know why Brian and co decided on the name Burton Suits?

Then read the lyrics to '(White Man)In Hammersmith Palais'

Midnight to six man
For the first time from Jamaica
Dillinger and Leroy Smart
Delroy Wilson, your cool operator

Ken Boothe for UK pop reggae
With backing bands sound systems
And if they've got anything to say
There's many black ears here to listen

But it was Four Tops all night with encores from stage right
Charging from the bass knives to the treble
But onstage they ain't got no roots rock rebel
Onstage they ain't got no...roots rock rebel

Dress back jump back this is a bluebeat attack
'Cos it won't get you anywhere
Fooling with your guns
The British Army is waiting out there
An' it weighs fifteen hundred tons

White youth, black youth
Better find another solution
Why not phone up Robin Hood
And ask him for some wealth distribution

Punk Rockers in the UK
They won't notice anyway
They're all too busy fighting
For a good place under the lighting

The new groups are not concerned
With what there is to be learned
They got Burton suits, ha you think it's funny
Turning rebellion into money

All over people changing their votes
Along with their overcoats
If Adolf Hitler flew in today
They'd send a limousine anyway

I'm the all night drug-prowling wolf
Who looks so sick in the sun
I'm the white man in the Palais
Just lookin' for fun

I'm only
Looking for fun

Oh please mister just leave me alone
i'm only looking for fun

Stuart Bailie gave the event a mention in his blog on Saturday 26th, see related links.

ARN Call to close BNP Centre in Dundonal - Petition

The Anti Racism Network are asking people to add their signatures (and organisations/trade unions etc if appropriate) to the letter below. They are also asking people to circulate the letter. The aim is to gather as much support as possible with the idea of launching a broad based campaign of political leaders, community and trade union leaders, and anti racism activists and anti racism supporters, committed to having the centre shut down. Two MLA's including Anna Lo, MLA, AP and Dawn Purvis, MLA, PUP signed amongst many others.

Please e-mail celebrating_diversity@ymail.com to add your name to the list SHUT DOWN THE BNP CALL CENTRE

WE THE UNDERSIGNED are horrified that the BNP’s national call centre is located in Carrowreagh Business Centre in Dundonald. The call centre is playing a central role in organizing recruitment and fundraising for the BNP and distributing their racist literature. We pledge our support for a campaign to have the call centre closed down. The last thing that Belfast needs is the presence of an organisation notorious for spreading racist lies whose members boast a string of convictions for race hate crimes. Wherever the BNP organises, immigrants and members of black and minority ethnic communities come under attack. In the past year NI has witnessed the poisonous effects of racism, with over 1000 attacks being reported to the PSNI - a figure many believe to be only a fraction of the true number. The attacks on Roma families have shown most visibly where this can lead, over one hundred people including many children fleeing their homes in fear of their lives. More recently, two Indian families living in Portadown had a number of windows in their homes smashed in racist attacks. In this context a BNP call centre in Dundonald is extremely alarming. The BNP is a deeply vicious organization. Racism, prejudice, anti women attitudes and homophobia permeates every aspect of the BNP. They call for the “repatriation” of all non whites - despite the fact that there are many non white people who are British. They refer to the holocaust as the “holohoax”. Their leader refers to gay people as being repulsive. Another leading member denies that rape exists saying publicly that forcing a woman to have sex against her will is not a crime because it is like forcing her to eat chocolate cake. The reality is that the BNP is a fascist organisation built on advancing their political goals through violence and lies. Their leader has a conviction for inciting racial hatred, as do many other members. An undercover journalist at a BNP “family day” held recently in England revealed how children were encouraged to burn gollywogs on a bonfire while the adults discussed where they would find “real” ones to burn and boasted of committing racist attacks in their own local areas. The Belfast Telegraph who reported the presence of the centre in Dundonald refers to the party as being fascist, stating “The British National Party is peddling its vile fascist propaganda from a secret Belfast bunker”. The true nature of the BNP is why so many people are opposed to their presence and do everything in their power to shut them down. Recently it was revealed that the BNP have been unable to secure office premises anywhere in East Lancashire. Reports confirm that time and time again landlords pulled out of deals for premises when they discovered who their new tenants would be. During the recent election campaign postal staff demanded their right to use a conscience clause in their contract to refuse to deliver their election literature. Many trade unions expel members who are found to be linked to the BNP. Every police force in the UK bans its members from joining the group. We are absolutely opposed to the BNP. We are calling on political leaders, community and trade union leaders, anti racism activists and all those in our society concerned about this alarming development to take a stand and organise together to shut down these hate mongers.

Please e-mail your name to celebrating_diversity@ymail.com

Melting Pot August 20th August

The Melting Pot in August was back in The Menagerie.

This blogger was away on holiday, but by all accounts this was the night for anyone loving their funk and Jazz grooves brought to you by The Jahm band. An eclectic, multi talented bunch of musicians with good vibes and party tides, including our good friend and shit hot Sax player Chris Malinski from Poland. And of course the Jahm crew were reliably backed up by Belfast based Kagura and Dirty Roots, along with the usual DJ antics of Venus Rollergirl.

Melting Pot and Trans 18th July 2009

The Melting Pot in July was held at the Black Box in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast. For July we teamed up with the wonderfully hip, urban, and informed Trans Festival.

We had the amazing Team Fresh from the North Coast of Antrim. Fuelled on punk rock and hip hop, they absolutely blew our minds, and we have to admit for the first time ever, we saw people actually bouncing on the dance floor before 10pm. Their attitude rocks and we love em.

Super Extra Bonus Party, all 7 blokes (and we don't think that's all of them), crammed themselves and their gear into a couple of cars and made their way up from Dublin to Belfast for the night. We were totally made up that the Super Extra Bonus Party dudes agreed to do this, not only because they won the Irish Choice Award for best album of 2007, but also because we saw them at Electric Picnic in 2008 in the Cosby Tent which was absolutely rocking. All we can say about that night is, wow, the place was totally jumping and full of the coolest party goers out and around Belfast, that Saturday night.

Another full to capacity gig, people we salute you. Once again thanks to Venus Rollergirl for her stonking dubstep, and DJ Parsley Monkphat for his intelligent beats, and hip hop vibes.

Kudos also to the sound engineer Sean Corcoran, the Super Extra Bonus Party engineer, who was roped into doing the whole night. You are a legend.

The Melting Pot 11th June 2009

On the 11th June The Melting Pot was launched to a sold out Menagerie in Belfast. Kicking things off were one of Belfast's hottest new bands Katie and The Carnival, featuring Katie Richardson, who back in March was invited to perform alongside Duke Special (who we might also add performed at a LMHR gig in the Limelight back in 2005) at this year’s Meteor Music Awards in Dublin. Have a look at her moment in the video below. Needless to say their blend of blues meets quirky soulful sounds, and brick a brack percussion went down a storm, and the venue was pretty much sold out by the time they went on stage.

Hot on their heels, followed a more seasoned group called The Sons of Robert Mitchum, a band from the dark side, flirting with the sounds of Tom Waits and Nick Cave, band members are made up of Belfast, Polish and South African musicians, and it was a indeed a melting pot of inspiration.

In the driving seat were Underscore Orkestra. This band were brought to our attention by our good friends at Balkan Alien Sound who know everything there is to know about bands with an Eastern, Gypsy punk , folk, spin and whirl. All the way from Portland Oregon in the US of A this band of vagabond musicians had the entire Menagerie on their feet and dancing.

The night ended with a bit of old school hip hop from Charlotte, and dubstep and reggae from Venus Rollergirl.

The party then continued on at an undisclosed location, until the very early hours of the morning. The last we heard Underscore Orkestra were on a ferry somewhere off the west coast of Ireland to meet up with Balkan Alien Sound for a stag weekend. If anyone has any information on their whereabouts please do contact us to put our minds at rest.

The night was a roaring success, and as we said on the night it's not just a gig, it's a movement of people standing up to the hatred and stupidity of racism. Way back in the day a group of DJs and bands including Soul II Soul decided that they would organise street parties and celebrations of music, fused or shared, or simply appreciated by all, and turn it on racism by simply getting people to hang out with each other, party, and learn from each other. We think that this along with the words and actions of Clash front man Joe Strummer, who once said "We're anti-fascist, we're anti-violence, we're anti-racist and we're pro-creative, we’re against ignorance” is probably two of the greatest examples music lovers can follow in combating racism and promoting multiculturalism.

If you were there, thanks for coming, if not, see you another time.

The Melting Pot is about to blog your mind.Stay tuned.