Dave Randall, John Robb

Rock the Casbah: Music as Protest

Description

Join us as we trace the lineage of protest music, from punk and hip hop to contemporary voices, reshaping the political soundscape today. 

Rockstars come social commentators, Dave Randall and John Robb, will explore how artists have used music to challenge authority, document lived experience and mobilise audiences, from anti-establishment anthems to deeply personal acts of resistance. 

Alongside historic movements, the conversation will look at the resurgence of politically charged music in recent years, including artists such as Paris Paloma and Kneecap, whose work speaks to gender, language, identity and power. 

Through discussion and selected audio clips, the event will examine how protest music evolves through generations and why it remains such a vital force in times of social and political upheaval. 

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About the Musicians

Dave Randall

Dave Randall

Dave Randall is a musician, writer and educator. He has toured the world playing guitar for Faithless, Dido, Sinead O’Connor and many others. He is author of Sound System: The Political Power of Music (Pluto Press 2025) and lectures at BIMM University Bristol.