Activist Music

Activist Music emerged in the 1960s, primarily in the United States and Britain, when musicians realised that strumming a guitar could be as powerful as holding a protest sign—if not more so, particularly when trying to wake up a sleepy audience. This genre is characterised by striking lyrical content addressing social issues and political turmoil, often sounding like a rallying cry mixed with a catchy tune, so you can hum along whilst contemplating the state of the world. If you think about it, it’s like the soundtrack to a protest march, except the musicians at least get to keep their shoes on and don’t have to dodge the rain.