Photograph
Buzzcocks, X-O-Dus (Exodus), Aidan O'Rourke
Alexandra Park, Niamos
23rd September 2018

On 23rd September 2018, Manchester Digital Music Archive held the launch of the We Are Dynamite! Northern Carnival Against the Nazis 40th Anniversary Exhibition.

These photos are by Aidan O'Rourke.

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The Northern Carnival against the Nazis, a rally and concert held on 15 July 1978 in Moss Side, Manchester, was a defining moment in establishing anti-racism in the city and beyond.

Dubbed ‘the day it became cool to be anti-racist’, the Carnival galvanised North West communities against racist groups, including the National Front. A rally of 15,000 people marched all the way from Strangeways prison to Alexandra Park joining a further 25,000 for an afternoon of music, dancing and unity.

Co-organised by Geoff Brown of the Anti-Nazi League (ANL) and Bernie Wilcox of Rock Against Racism (RAR), the Carnival featured incendiary live performances by pop-punk superstars Buzzcocks and Steel Pulse, the UK's leading reggae band of the period. Support came from Moss Side reggae band Exodus (later X-O-Dus) and China Street from Lancaster, who had released a single on EMI called ‘Rock Against Racism’.

This exhibition of unseen photos and ephemera aims to highlight the passion and excitement of the day whilst inspiring visitors to reflect upon a new era of challenge for people opposing messages of racism and division across the world.

Join us for drinks and conversation from 6.30pm.

Special guests: Honey and Patrick from Exodus.

The exhibition will run from:
Mon Sep 3rd-Sat Sep 22nd 10am-7pm and is FREE.

Our project volunteers would like to speak to anyone who attended the march or Carnival. We are looking to capture memories, images and footage for our permanent digital exhibition. If you can help, get in touch: info@mdmarchive.co.uk

IMAGE: Steel Pulse at the Carnival (L-R) Basil Gabbidon and David Hinds © John Sturrock, 1978

Twitter:
#NorthernCarnival1978
@MDMArchive

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