This year, the Joe Strummer Foundation will be joining Independent Venue Week as a Charity Partner. We talked to Jamie from the charity, about the projects we’re working with them on, and what Joe’s legacy means for music.
The Joe Strummer Foundation is a charity that is widely involved in lots of areas of music. We might recognise their name most notably for the Strummerville fire at Glastonbury Festival, a place that fosters counter-cultural conversation around music. But the charity are also involved in a number of other projects.
Jamie Webb, is the Charity Co-ordinator at the Joe Strummer Foundation.
He runs us through a little of what him and the team have been involved with:
“The Joe Strummer Foundation is a charity that aims to provide opportunities to musicians and help to projects around the world that create empowerment through music.
In this past year TJSF donated funds to the In Place Of War charity that will enable them to ship musical equipment to Palestine and Uganda which will enable over 1000 young people the access to state of the art equipment in five cities.
Through our generous supporters, the foundation were able to support the fabulous Three Minute Heroes campaign run by the fine people of the Warren Youth Project in Hull. #Hearmeout encourages young people to use creative writing and music to talk openly, confidently and safely about what’s on their mind. Young people’s lyrics were turned into songs which were performed and recorded for a special album.”
“We have been working on a multitude of projects and campaigns which include the sponsorship of the Camden Roundhouse’ On Track project which is a free 6-week music course giving vulnerable and disadvantaged 16-25yr olds the chance to create and perform original music and get the technical skills required to put on a live music event.
A JSF team which included Frank Turner went out to visit a music studio we set up in Freetown, Sierra Leone back in 2012. The music room is at WAYout Arts, a charity that works with street youth, ex-child combatants and vulnerable young people. The visit was part of a JSF led campaign to raise £2500 for new studio equipment
We have been running the Strummerjam initiative for two years now, it is a global fundraising event which is held throughout the month of August. Strummerjam events are held all around the world to celebrate the life, music and memory of Joe Strummer and to raise funds for music non- profits.”
This year the foundation will be curating a show at the Brass Monkey in Hastings. This show is a massive step forward in our partnership with the foundation and its work.
“We’ve been aware of the initiative for a while now and have been loosley involved but after speaking with Sybil and Chloe thought that this year we should get stuck in and arrange a show to celebrate Hastings, The Brass Monkey and put together an exciting event for people to enjoy.”
“The Joe Strummer Foundation understands the importance of Independent Venues. They are the lifeblood of the music industry, a place for bands and musicians to hone their skill, learn their craft, build fan bases and it’s not only the bands that need these spaces. it’s also the gig-goers, sound engineers, promoters, labels, lighting experts,” says Jamie.
For us it’s a wonderful partnership to have been made. We believe strongly in the foundation and it’s projects, and want to find ways to be more involved in the future.
Tickets for the Joe Strummer Foundation show can be purchased here
Strummerville-on-Sea presents: Arrows Of Love//Bloody Knees/Yowl/Lice/Heavy Lungs
Feb 3rd 2018 @ Brass Monkey, 18 Havelock Rd, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1BP
For more information on any of these projects, you can visit the foundation website
