Evening News: "Capital wins Bragging rights for May Day gig
SINGER Billy Bragg is to perform a free open air concert in The Meadows as part of Edinburgh's May Day celebrations.
The rock musician, whose strong political views are well known, is expected to attract hundreds more people than normal to the annual rally on Saturday, April 29.
Scottish Socialist Party leader and Lothians MSP Colin Fox, who is president of the Edinburgh May Day committee, said Bragg was due to be playing at a concert in England the night before the rally, but had agreed to fly up specially for the Edinburgh event, then fly back south for another concert the same night.
'We were delighted when he accepted our invitation and pleased he is willing to go to so much trouble to be there,' said Mr Fox.
'Last year we had about 2000 people at the rally. Billy obviously has a following and it's a free concert.
'There will be people who come along to hear him who might not normally come to the May Day rally. If he puts on another 1000 to the crowd, we would be very pleased.'
The annual march in celebration of International Workers' Day will start in Market Street and follow a route along Princes Street and Lothian Road to The Meadows for the rally and concert.
Organisers are hoping senior trade union leaders will be among the speakers at the rally, which will also mark the 80th anniversary of the 1926 General Strike.
In recent years the city's May Day parades have been led by figures such as veteran socialist Tony Benn, former miners' leader Arthur Scargill, black American musician Paul Robeson Junior and rail union leader Bob Crow."
