The American activist and singer Joe Hill was such an inspiring voice for workers' rights and social change in the early years of the 20th century that those in charge of society found it convenient to get him out of the way by blatantly stitching him up on a murder charge and executing him.
However, the man, occasionally referred to as the “bard of the Pacific North West and West Coast”, continued to inspire people. His final words to his supporters in a telegram sent to the Labour campaigner Bill Haywood were: “Don't waste any time mourning. Organize!"
Joey Shaw's sixty-minute show mixes eight songs connected to Joe Hill's ideas with extracts from letters written during the stitch-up trial.
Most of the songs are Joseph’s arrangement and range from some that have a 1960s psychedelic protest feel to others given a late 20th-century “punk” delivery. He’s a fine, entertaining singer and a versatile guitarist with a respect for the important political contribution of Joe Hill.
The show begins with a very slowly sung rendition to a pulsing, mournful backing of the Hayes and Robinson 1936 song "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night", which is best recalled for many people by the Paul Robeson recording.
The performance’s downbeat mood doesn’t change until we are given an exciting mash-up of Joe Hill and Bikini Girl’s versions of "Rebel Girl", a remarkable high point in the event.
It can be argued that the doom-laden drift of the music and quotes from Joe Hill fit very much into the current political period. But surely this isn’t why the singer became an inspiration to millions even in his closing message to Bill Haywood. That could disappoint those in the audience who know the man and his legacy. Those who don’t know the man are likely to learn little more than a few final thoughts of a condemned man interspersed by mostly mournful arrangements of various songs.
Joey Shaw describes the show as a work in progress, so it will change. Meanwhile, it is a thoughtful event with some very enjoyable moments (particularly "Rebel Girl").
Bear in mind it is performed in a shaded Edinburgh outdoor courtyard, so wear flexible clothing in case the weather becomes chilly.