Billy Bragg Announces 'Bridges Not Walls' Album, Shares New Single Saffiyah Smiles
Monday, 09 October 2017
Written by Laura Johnson
Billy Bragg has shared a new single.
Saffiyah Smiles will feature on his forthcoming mini album, 'Bridges Not Walls', which is due out on November 3 and will bring together all the singles he released this summer, as well as two other songs.
Discussing Saffiyah Smiles, Bragg said:
"Following the shocking scenes of white supremacists marching through the streets of Charlottesville this past summer, my mind went back to an image of a young woman facing down a ranting fascist with nothing but a serene smile. Saffiyah Khan had been taking part in a counter demonstration against the neo-fascist English Defence League in Birmingham, England, in April this year when she saw a woman being surrounded by taunting EDL supporters. Saira Zafar had been verbally opposing the racists and a number of them had left the demo to turn on her. When the police struggled to protect her, Saffiyah stepped up and got in the face of the loudest aggressor, holding him at bay with nothing more than a smile until police intervened. A press photographer captured the moment and the picture went viral. Local Labour MP Jess Phillips memorably tweeted the image with the caption “Who looks like they have the power here?” Saffiyah Khan’s selfless act of solidarity is an inspiration to us all and a reminder that sometimes you can confront hatred by calmly making plain how ridiculous its propagators are."
‘Bridges Not Walls’ tracklist:
The Sleep Of Reason
King Tide And The Sunny Day Flood
Why We Build The Wall
Saffiyah Smiles
Not Everything That Counts Can Be Counted
Full English Brexit
Bragg will head out on his Bridges Not Walls solo tour next month.
Billy Bragg Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Sun November 05 2017 - BEXHILL ON SEA De La Warr Pavilion
Mon November 06 2017 - LONDON Islington Assembly Hall
Tue November 07 2017 - LONDON Islington Assembly Hall
Wed November 08 2017 - CAMBRIDGE Junction 1
Fri November 10 2017 - OXFORD O2 Academy Oxford
Sat November 11 2017 - BIRMINGHAM Town Hall
Sun November 12 2017 - SHEFFIELD Sheffield Leadmill
Tue November 14 2017 - LIVERPOOL Philharmonic Hall
Wed November 15 2017 - EDINBURGH Queens Hall
Thu November 16 2017 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Wylam Brewery
Sat November 18 2017 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Sun November 19 2017 - CARDIFF Tramshed
Tue November 21 2017 - SOUTHAMPTON Brook
Wed November 22 2017 - LONDON Clapham Grand
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