By James Smith

SYDNEY -- Despite a torrential downpour on October 23, well over 160 guests attended Left and Live, the annual Green Left Weekly fundraising dinner here. Billed as an evening of hard-hitting political comedy and music, the event opened with Elliot Western from the band Welter.

Western's acoustic version of “Janice”, a song which examines the incredible attention given to Pauline Hanson by establishment media, set the tone for the evening. Western played songs from his album Satellite Generation, dedicating them to “those courageous people who stand on street corners every week selling Green Left Weekly”.

Skirt, a four-piece, all singing, all women group with gorgeous harmonies, delivered a set of smooth and sexy country-tinged songs. They spoke about the need to continue the struggle for women's rights.

Comedian Penny Pedderson, who drove through rain and hail to perform after an earlier gig at the Sydney Comedy Festival, worked the room with a satirical set focusing on the absurdity of modelling, dieting and Jenny Craig, and taking off Pauline Hanson.

David Beniuk, a political songwriter in the tradition of Woody Guthrie and Billy Bragg, delivered a powerful set. Armed with only an acoustic guitar, Beniuk performed his song, “Advance a current affair”, which outlines the battle waged against the left by the Murdoch and Packer press.

Beniuk also performed his song “No and Yes” on referendums in Australia's history -- on conscription, the banning of the Communist Party, indigenous people's right to vote and the republic -- with a call for a “yes” vote for revolutionary social change.

The Celtic-influenced Infidels' performance included the Dylan covers “A hard rain's gonna fall” and “Oxford town”. Their song “Sweetness fades”, dedicated to right-wing journalist Piers Akerman, is about a careerist who justifies his compromise by accusing others of political naivety.

The performers were interspersed with speakers, first up being Resistance activist Maria Voukelatos, who spoke about the government's plan to dismantle public education and the campaign against it.

Greetings from the East Timorese resistance group Fretilin were given by Naldo Rai. He thanked Green Left Weekly, Resistance and Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor for 24 years of campaigning and stressed the need to bring those responsible for the murders to justice.

Sam Wainwright from the Democratic Socialist Party highlighted the role that international solidarity and “people power” played in freeing East Timor, and emphasised the importance of the radical media in such campaigns. A collection following Wainwright's talk brought in more than $600 in donations and numerous subscriptions to Green Left Weekly.

Left and Live concluded with a 60-minute set of reggae, soul, funk and drum and bass by world music DJ Sista Agnes. The event raised more than $1700 for Green Left Weekly.

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