A great evening was had by all at Liberation Live: Bands for Palestine – the first of what will be monthly gigs fundraising for various causes run by the Students’ Union. Performing were incredible bands who brought joy, passion, and talent to Mandela Hall.
The hall was awash with sound. Chants intersected the performances, establishing that it was a night not only of enjoyment but also of protest and anger. The bass of Crimson, a captivating four-piece, reverberated through the space. Their energetic drumming and trumpet accompaniment gave them a strong jazz fusion sound, and I maintain that every song can benefit from a trumpet solo, especially one as brilliant as theirs.
Jimmy took to the stage with a song that had been written just the day before, though you wouldn’t have guessed so. The lead singer stepped off the stage and into the audience, microphone in hand, at the end of one song, saying, “I think everyone in this room has something to be angry about right now.” Smaller venues are always better in my opinion, you leave feeling that you have experienced something unique, and we are very lucky at Sussex to have spaces like Mandela Hall. It was on to Green Eye to close out the night, a stellar cover of ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ added to their grungy 90s energy.
Oh, Bergine commented on the long history of live music at Sussex. Falmer House has hosted a number of iconic acts, including Pink Floyd, The Clash, and Blur. Pulp, The Kooks, and Radiohead all played the now-demolished East Slope Bar, and Amy Winehouse performed in Falmer Bar (thankfully still intact). Liberation Live is re-establishing the University as a real home for live music and somewhere for local artists to showcase their talent, whilst also being a vital tool of community action.
Over four hundred tickets were sold and I would strongly recommend that everyone checks out the next Liberation Live gig. There were also stalls fundraising with art prints, stickers, postcards, and food. At the end of the night, it was announced that over two thousand pounds had been raised for Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), who have been providing medical aid during the genocide in Gaza. Congratulations are in order to all of those who worked hard to organise the night, ensure its smooth running, and to document it. Here’s to many more Liberation Lives!
Another article you may enjoy: https://thebadgeronline.com/2025/11/the-fight-to-keep-grassroots-venues-alive/
