In the first episode of our new podcast, Footsteps in Utopia, Alex and James speak to Winston Marshall, the former Banjo player from the hugely successful Mumford and Sons.
Britain’s biggest music festival was always safe space for left-wing protest, and this year has seen more controversy than we can remember for years, from chants of “death to the IDF” to hoardings attacking JK Rowling, and the increasingly performative political posturing by acts like Kneecap and Bob Vylan.
But is any of this new? Is any of it even interesting?
We explore the deeper question: should music and politics mix? Is music inherently left-wing, or is that perception just reflection of the views of the artists themselves? Winston shares stories from his own experience at the peak of the music industry, including the price he paid for publicly endorsing a book critical of Antifa. His reflections on cancel culture, Glastonbury's political evolution, and what it means to be truly rebellious in today’s music scen…
