It was last autumn that Robb Johnson released Ordinary Giants, an extensive, three-CD work which follows the life and times of his father, Ron. In our album review, Richard Hollingham took no hesitation in calling the album monumental. Albums of such stature rarely close their final page upon release and if any album has such cause to be a continued celebration than this most certainly does, not least because of it’s unflinching relevance to us today:
It must have been a tremendous project to pull together, a personal mission that should be turned into a general history. How did we get to where we are today? Listen to Ordinary Giants and you will see that the view of the future is positive, as it is the Ordinary Giants that come “through the evening & the starlight & the dark before the dawn”. Richard Hollingham (Folk Radio UK)
Johnson chronicled events from the 1920s to 2000s, highlighting the impact of the war years and the creation of the NHS. Comprising more than 50 songs and spoken word pieces, it features featuring a large and impressive cast of voices and musicians, including Rory McLeod, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady, Phil Odgers (The Men They Couldn’t Hang), Tom Robinson, Justin Sullivan (New Model Army) and Dennis Skinner MP
The album was launched with a live performance at Tara Arts Theatre, southwest London in November last year.
Now, featuring a slightly reduced cast including Sian, Allen, Matthew Crampton, John Forrester, David Harrod, Arvin Johnson, Phil Odgers, Fae Simon and Louise Michelle, Johnson will bring Ordinary Giants to Chats Palace in Hackney over 10-11 October.
The venue itself is steeped in history: having been appropriated by the local community in 1976 as an arts centre in the Grade II listed former Homerton Library, donated to Hackney in 1913 by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie “for the betterment of East Londoners”, Chats Palace has been a hub for community arts and activism ever since.
Tickets priced £8-12 are available here https://chatspalace.com/events/robb-johnson-presents-ordinary-giants/2019-10-10/
Chats Palace is at 42-44 Brooksby’s Walk, London E9 6DF. The nearest rail link is Homerton Overground.
Photo Credit: Milan Svanderlik