Richie Edwards, The Manic Street Preachers

28th May, 1994   Brockwell Park, London SE24

The 1994 Anti-Nazi League (ANL) Carnival was a massive open-air music festival held on 28th May, 1994, at Brockwell Park in Brixton, London. It gathered over 100,000 people to celebrate the defeat of the British National Party (BNP) in local elections and to protest agaisst the rise of the far-right.

The event, which echoed the Rock Against Racism movement of the 1970s, featured a highly influential multi-genre lineup of bands and artists.

Highlights

• Purpose: A mass mobilization to push back against the far-right following a series of racially motivated murders in South-East London and the election of a BNP councilor in Tower Hamlets.
• The Atmosphere: Heavily focused on unity, the carnival celebrated multiculturalism and served as a major cultural pushback against racism in the UK.

Notable Performers & Speakers

• Billy Bragg: Delivered a brief but rousing set where he spoke out against neo-fascism.
• General Levi: Made history by performing his seminal jungle track "Incredible" live for the very first time, backed by Commander B from Choice FM.
• Manic Street Preachers: Played a notable set, which is heavily documented among fans of the band.
• Other Performers: The lineup also included The Levellers, Credit to the Nation, SMASH, Urban Species, Incognito, and Tom Robinson.
• Speakers & MCs: Included speeches by Rock Against Racism founder Red Saunders and The Specials' Jerry Dammers

Time for a reprise in 2026 my friends
Never again, again
xxx