WeAreQuasars, BlindFiction Freefall and Bearclaw will be appearing at Jamnesty Carlisle, a music concert in support of Amnesty International UK this weekend.
Organised by Carlisle Amnesty Group, Jamnesty takes place on Saturday 5th August at the Old Fire Station, Carlisle and doors will open at 1.30 p.m. Tickets for the event are available from Carlisle Tourist Information Office, 5-6 Market Street (tel: 01228 598596) £5 in advance or £8 on the door.
The bands have kindly agreed to play for free so that all profits from ticket sales will go to Amnesty.
Mike Roper of Blind Fiction today said: “We are looking forward to this show. The work Amnesty International do in protecting human rights is absolutely vital so we will be bringing copies of our EP The Post Truth and donating £1 from every sale to Amnesty.”
During the event there will be a campaign to free Iranian musician Mehdi Rajabian and his film maker brother Hossein, who were tortured then unfairly imprisoned in Iran after a three-minute trial in 2015.
Hazel Royle, Chair of the Amnesty Carlisle Group said: “I do hope music fans will find time to support the cause of Mehdi and Hossein, who have been horrendously treated by the Iranian authorities.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
WeAreQuasars are a nationally known post-punk/wave indie band from Carlisle whose latest LP ‘Resistance’ was released this year.
Also from Carlisle, BlindFiction describe themselves as a melodic rock/acoustic outfit. Their EP ‘The Post Truth’ was released in March. Former group member Bearclaw will be playing accoustic between acts.
Young rockers Freefall (shortly to be known as ‘Treacle’) are from the Brampton area. Their line-up includes Chris Moss (vocals) and Rufus Hodge (drums) who are both keen supporters of Amnesty International.
In October 2013 Mehdi Rajabian and Hossein Rajabian were detained for 18 days at a secret location in Iran where they were beaten and given electric shocks. In 2015 they were convicted of including ‘insulting Islamic sanctities’, ‘spreading propaganda against the system’ and ‘illegal audio-visual activities’ and sentenced to six years imprisonment. For more details please see https://www.amnesty.org.uk/iranian-filmmaker-and-musicians-jailed-after-three-minute-trial
Very little of the work of Mehdi Rajabian can be found on the internet as it was confiscated by the Iranian authorities.
