English folk-punk artist Billy Bragg brings activist show to Palace Theatre

Although Billy Bragg, a folk-punk artist from Great Britain, has been coming to the U.S. for 40 years, he’s never been to Greensburg — before this week.

When he arrives, Bragg said he plans to stroll through the downtown to get a feel for the character of the communtity. That way, he can put on a show that fosters what is at the heart of live music for Bragg: a sense of belonging.

Bragg, a singer-songwriter whose music highlights left-wing political causes and activism, will play at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg this Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

While he is candid in his music about his stances on political and social issues, like his steadfast support for unions, the working class, racial justice and the LGBTQ+ community, entertaining an audience, first and foremost, is what he strives to do.

“I don’t just come out banging out politics,” Bragg said. “If you use a bit of humor or talk to the audience like you’re putting your arm around them, they’re much more open to ideas.”

To Bragg, music with a message offers something to both artist and audience and bringing about matters close to his heart gives his optimism a much-needed morale boost. To the audience, seeing a crowd of people passionate about a cause can show an individual they are not alone in their struggles—- or even expose them to a social issue they hadn’t thought about before, Bragg said.

“People put their fists in the air, and solidarity—-I can physically see that,” Bragg said. “I hear them cheering the ideas. That helps me because it recharges my activism and temporarily kicks my cynicism to the curb.”

“My job, I think, partly, is to make the audience feel the same—— to make the audience also see that they’re not the only person who cares.”

But the distinction between feeling charged up through music and real, concrete action is one Bragg has learned over the past 40 years, and it’s a distinction he still emphasizes. Still, Bragg doesn’t negate the role music can play in expanding people’s beliefs.

“In the old days, during punk rock and all that, I believed music could change the world,” Bragg said. “I’ve realized its more subtle than that, but just as worthwhile. You don’t have a lever to pull with music; its more about giving people a sense that they’re part of something bigger.”

Bragg’s music takes inspiration from classic favorites like Bob Dylan and The Clash. Despite the classic taste, Bragg said he’s been able to connect with younger generations the same way he’s been able to relate to audiences across America despite being from the U.K: through a shared passion for social justice issues. No matter where Bragg goes, or how many years pass, the themes of working-class struggle and discrimination remain.

“I find young people say at festivals, ‘I’ve never heard anybody from your generation stand up for trans right before,’ and I say, ‘Mate, when I was your age, I was standing up for gay rights, and this issue is more or less the same in a different generation.”

Doors open one hour prior to showtime. Tickets are available at the box office or the Palace Theatre website.