This machine fights for forests

Lock On -- Songs to save Australia's forests
Various artists
Compiled by Andy Parkes
Raw Power Productions through Niche Records
Order by phone on 1300 655 966 or visit <http://www.byron-bay.com/rawpower>

Review by Nick Fredman

The north coast of NSW has a history of environmental activism, from the successful struggles to save Terrania Creek in 1979 and Chaelundi in the mid-'90s, to today's campaign to stop the Timbarra gold mine near Tenterfield. The region also has a diverse and vibrant music scene. These two aspects have been brought together in a remarkable new local CD.

Andy Parkes, who complied the collection, is well known in both musical and activist circles around Lismore. “The project came out of an honours degree in contemporary music”, Parkes told Green Left Weekly.

“My research looked at social change music in history. Every freedom struggle -- for civil rights in the US, against apartheid in South Africa, for liberation in Nicaragua, in women's liberation struggles -- has given rise to music that expresses what people in the struggle are saying. With this CD, I've compiled the music that's come out of the culture of the environment movement in this area.”

The mainstay of the CD is what Parkes calls “the folk singer's weapon against oppression” -- the acoustic guitar. However, rock, reggae and blues also make an appearance.

The performers include respected campaigners like Lisa Yeates and Earth Reggae, veterans of many fundraisers. The songs tell the stories of many old and current battles, including Terrania, Chaelundi, the Daintree and Timbarra.

Music has been a vital part of the environmental movement. Parkes and fellow contributors Mick Daley, Neil Pike and Lisa Yeates will be taking their messages down the east coast in a series of CD launches/forest campaign fundraisers.

“I'm optimistic that there'll soon be more of a culture of rebellion, and part of that will be a music of rebellion”, Parkes predicted. Lock On and its associated tour are a great example of such a culture in action.

The Lock On tour dates are: Lismore: Wednesday, June 5 at the Conservatorium (part of the World Environment Day Festival, 11am-6pm); Newcastle: Wednesday, June 9 at the Northern Star Hotel; Sydney: Thursday, June 10 at the University of NSW Roundhouse (lunchtime); Friday, June 11 at the Three Weeds Hotel, Rozelle; Canberra: Saturday, June 12 at the Phoenix Hotel; Melbourne: Wednesday, June 16, at the Empress Hotel and Thursday, June 17, at the Punters Club.

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