Review // Love Music Hate Sexism
Film & Music, Live reviews Posted on 24.06.2012 by Lottie Prince
‘Love Music Hate Racism’ was a concert first set up in 2002 in Manchester’s Platt Fields Park. It was a campaign created by the Anti-Nazi League and Unite Against Fascism to fight back against the growing popularity of the BNP in the same way that ‘Rock Against Racism’ did in the 1970s. ‘Love Music Hate Racism’ has had bands such as Doves, Ms. Dynamite and Pete Doherty perform to promote intolerance of any form of racism, and the Feminist Society’s very own take on the event on 30th May, ‘Love Music Hate Sexism’, was supported by some of the best local musical names around Leeds.
The event was held at TJs in Woodhouse. As a first timer to the bar I wasn’t too sure what I thought about the place as I was walking up to it. It’s your basic red brick block building with very little of the Yorkshire charm that comes with pubs like Headingly Taps or Dry Dock. But then again, most people’s first impression of the Brudenell Social Club isn’t a mind-blowing feeling of love for its exterior. Like the Brudenell, TJs is a perfect venue for hosting live bands with its large stage and dance floor, a room-length bar and raised seating area with round diner-style tables towards the back of the room. The venue was just the right size for the amount of people there; I for one hate those nights out where there’s a whole crowd squashed into one small room. The atmosphere was so chilled out, with people standing around dancing and a large group sat cross legged in front of the stage, that it was sort of a cross between primary school assemblies and some form of hippy festival – and I think it really worked!
I think that one of my personal highlights of the night was the cake stall. To be more precise, the rainbow cake was astounding! It had lots of different layers of different coloured cake, topped with white icing. The whole cake disappeared – along with the rainbow cupcakes! – incredibly quickly, so I’m pretty sure that the fundraising on the cake stall was a huge success!
It was more than just the cake stand that was a hit though. The whole event was buzzing with enthusiasm and FemSoc, along with the Union Music Library, People and Planet and Green Action, really helped to raise awareness of important charities in Leeds. SARSVL (Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds) and Scarleteen.com were the charities behind the event and it is easy to see that FemSoc succeeded tremendously in raising their profile as well as raising over £350 for an important cause. If there is another ‘Love Music’ event hosted by FemSoc in the future then I would definitely recommend to anybody. It would certainly be worth your time and money!
