On Resistance Street is a feature documentary from Montaj Media Village and Resistance Street Creatives.
The film is an in-depth examination of the role music plays in the fight against Fascism and racism. It features many renowned musicians, writers, commentators and activists including original members of Steel Pulse, Aswad, The Sex Pistols, Stiff Little Fingers, The Levellers, The Men They Couldn’t Hang, Belfast Punk Godfather Terri Hooley, author and Joe Strummer biographer Chris Salewicz, Fire Brigade Union leader Matt Wrack, National Organiser of ‘Stand Up To Racism’ Weyman Bennett and many others.
On Resistance Street was a two-year project, shot on location in England, Belfast and New York. It carries an original soundtrack of 20 songs which will be released as an album in 2024.
The film revisits the ‘Rock Against Racism’ movement of the late 70s, noting its influence on future waves of radical artists and political activists. Drawing on extensive research by author Rick Blackman, it also shines a light – for the very first time in a film – on a 1950s organisation, ‘The Stars Campaign For Inter-Racial Friendship’ which was founded by a group of famous British jazz musicians and entertainers in the wake of the 1958 Notting Hill riots and provided venues in West London for black and white youth to socialise together. The crucial role played by punk rock in uniting young people in 1970s’ sectarian Belfast is also featured.
In addition to its historical elements, On Resistance Street tracks the disturbing contemporary drifts to the right across the political west, the weaponization of Black grammatical history, right wing musical cultural appropriation and the role of anti-racism social media groups inside today’s political battlegrounds. It looks at grime music today and the historic role played by Black musicians in British music.
The Q&A panel features:
PANEL CHAIR - LOUISE RAW Historian and ORS contributor
MYKAELL RILEY: Original STEEL PULSE member and Professor of Black Music History and Bass Culture, Westminster University.
PAUL SIMMONDS: Lead songwriter of THE MEN THEY COULDN'T HANG
RICK BLACKMAN: Historian, Author and Associate Producer
ROBIN BANKS: Clash Confidante, Producer and Co-Founder of RESISTANCE STREET
RICHARD DAVID: Writer-Director, Co-Founder of RESISTANCE STREET
