Book Talk - Mixing Pop and Politics: A Marxist History of Popular Music

Join us for a book talk and Q&A with author Toby Manning as he discusses his new book 'Mixing Pop and Politics: A Marxist History of Popular Music'. 

This promises to be a fascinating and engaging event. Toby will discuss his new book, playing different music as he goes, and there will be plenty of time for questions at the end.

A radical history of the political and social upheavals of the last 70 years, told through the period’s most popular music.

Mixing Pop and Politics is not a history of political music, but a political history of popular music. Spanning the early 50s to the present, it shows how, from doo-wop to hip-hop, punk to crunk and grunge to grime, music has both reflected and resisted the political events of its era.

Mixing Pop and Politics explores the connections between popular music and political ideology, whether that’s the liberation of rock’n’roll or the containment of girl groups, the refusal of glam or the resignation of soft rock, the solidarity of disco or the individualism of 80s pop.

At a time when reactionary forces are waging political war in the realm of culture, and we’re being told to keep politics out of music, Mixing Pop and Politics is a timely, original and joyful exploration of popular music’s role in our society.

Entry is free, with optional donation tickets, or a ticket including a reserved copy of the book. All donation tickets help support our project so that we can continue to host events and provide free meeting space.

Doors open from 6:30 for a 7pm start.

If you have booked a ticket and can no longer attend, please let us know so that we can free up the space for someone else.