This free online event is taking place via Zoom.
Members of the choir from across its 30 year history will explore the history of the choir through music, ephemera, and objects from the collection.
Velvet Fist was a socialist feminist women's acapella choir active in London 1983 to 2013. They sang songs of resistance and solidarity in support of struggles in the UK and beyond. Velvet Fist sang about people past and present, and their struggle for liberation. Their songs included "No Going Back", which explored the impact of the Miner's Strike in 1984-5 on women, and the South African freedom song "Zenzenina", which was sung during the struggle to end apartheid. The group also performed historical folk songs of movements from the Diggers to the International Brigades.
This event will explore their origins and development through a key period of political change in Britain, followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A on the importance of political song and the legacy of their music and archive.
Meet the Hosts
Velvet Fist
Velvet Fist was a socialist feminist women’s acapella choir active in London 1983 to 2013. The choir originated in an arts project by the communist party – a mixed radical choir named Artery Choir.
In 1990 the choir became a women only choir and changed their name to "Velvet Fist" inspired by the Peggy Seeger song "Carry Greenham Home" and the role of women in the Greenham Common protests.
The choir had around 12 members at any one time and sang and performed political songs for peace, socialism, feminism, and human rights at gigs and campaigning events in London for individuals, national, and international causes.
