 Bragg makes a point on the Andrew Marr show |
Singer/songwriter Billy Bragg will be visiting Armley Jail launching his Jail Guitar Doors charity.
Bragg's visit to the Victorian building on Monday 18 October hopes to rehabilitate prisoners through music.
The charity was formed in 2007, since then Bragg's unusual charity has donated guitars to more than 20 prisons.
Armley will be the 23rd prison to take up the musical programme.
In 2007 Bragg was looking to do something positive to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of the Clash's Joe Strummer when he received a request from a local jail.
Malcolm Dudley, a drug and alcohol counsellor, was setting up a guitar class as a way of engaging prisoners. He was running short of instruments and asked Bragg to help, that was the catalyst.
Jail Guitar Doors is titled after a Clash single 'B' side of that name.
 Billy Bragg will be inside Armley with his guitars |
Billy Bragg has said: "Prison has to be about much more than just locking people up. We want people to be able to move on from their situation and reconnect with the outside world, and my hunch was that playing an instrument - particularly a guitar - could help that."
Bragg has just returned from Scotland visiting a series of prisons for his charity.
Breaking Rocks
In July Breaking Rocks, the documentary film about the work of the charity, was shown in Leeds with Bragg in attendance at the Hyde Park Picture House.
It was after watching the film at that event that Leeds-based musician Gary Kaye volunteered to help. He will organise Jail Guitar Doors at Armley and will be at the launch along with Bragg.
 Gary hasn't worked in prison before this scheme |
Kaye, 40, the former poet in residence for Leeds United said: "I was inspired by the film and Billy said, 'I'll provide the guitars, you set it up'."
"I understand prison is about punishment and rehabilitation. What Jail Guitar Doors is trying to do is to give the prisoners another way of communicating, to voice how they feel.
"Billy always stresses, 'The guitars are not a gift, they are an opportunity. If you use the opportunity you can benefit'."
Two former inmates that were helped by the charity have used their opportunity well, even featuring on the Leftfield stage (curated by Bragg) at this year's Glastonbury festival.
Kaye is a full-time teacher and will be helping the charity at Armley during the evenings. He is looking forward to the challenge.
Positive experience
"I have been seeking a lot of advice and it says it's a positive experience. I just think the prisoners deserve a chance."
Bragg, 52, claims that his life was dramatically changed after seeing the Clash play live in 1978 at Victoria Park, London at a huge Anti Nazi League concert. And his first album Life's a Riot with Spy Vs. Spy was released in 1983.
In 1985 his song A New England became a Top 10 hit in the UK for Kirsty MacColl.
Bragg is now almost as well known for his work with grass root political movements and commentating on the issues of the day.
 E-mail this to a friend |  Printable version |
A 22-year-old mother from Jacksonville, Florida, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for shaking her 3-month-old son to death after his crying interrupted her FarmVille game.
