Vandal Factory

We finally got rid of the Tories! But don't let your guard down, as we're still discussing hope & anger and social justice in these changing times.

In this episode, Emilia from queer punk band The Menstrual Cramps talks about the Bands Boycott Barclays campaign. Lighting designer Jess Brigham contributes to the Freelance Feelings Factory.

Billy and Lou from The Hangout Youth CIC talk about creating space for LGBTQIA+ Youth and their film Beyond Ls14. Speaking of space, Henry and Natalie discuss heterotopia and place-making community work.

Find us on Facebook, Instagram and X and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.

You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists! Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

With the 2024 Genral Election round the corner, we asked: What would you change about funding, structures and management of arts and culture?

This is exactly what we put to actors, writers, directors, thratre-makers and musicians across the UK. In no particular order, you’ll hear ideas and provocations from: Dermot Daley, Boff Whalley, Lisa Holdsworth, Daniel York Loh, Luke Skilbeck, Peyvand Sardegian, Daneka Etchells, Richard Burgon (MP), Seth Mowshowitz (Fold) and Jarmouse. With input from your hosts, Henry Raby and Natalie Quatermass.

Find us on Facebook, Instagram and X and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.

You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists!

Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

Slash Fiction are a south Yorkshire punk band whose new album 'We'll Hold This Line Until Hell Freezes Over' is a masterpiece of raw and wonderful anthems. Henry is joined by Niamh, Jess and Dan who discuss principles of Trade Unionism, DIY culture, solidarity and song-writing.

Find us on Facebook, Instagram and X and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.

You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists!

Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

Natalie visited the Palestine Unveiled art exhibition, a one-day pop-up event at Cole's Gallery in the Leeds Corn Exhange. Celebrating solidarity through visual art and fund-raising for medical aid, Natalie met artists speak about their work and the vital importance of fund-raising.

She speaks with artists Salma Kuhail, Mahgull Khan, Fatima Asad and Josh Sutton.

Follow them on Instagram: @mahgulls.art, @salma.kuhail, @its_fatimaasad, @redfezbooks.

With reflections and insights from Leeds poet Tallullah Howarth and friend-of-the-show Fozia.

"People of Leeds are friends of salt and revolution."

Henry and Natalie visit East Street Arts and meet Juman Quneis and Taqi Spateen, with special thanks to the Leeds Palestinian Film Festival.

Juman is a film-maker from Ramallah in the West Bank whose documentary work has influenced Palestinian law. She's in the UK studying film and volunteering with the Leeds Palestinian Film Festival. She talks about her work, as well as her vision for a documentary about murdered journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

Taqi Spateen is a visual artist-activist who has worked across the world. He's visiting Leeds to paint a mural on the side of East Street Arts' building. He talks about the inspiration for his artwork, being arrested by the Israeli Occupation Forces and why he loves a classic Italian song.

And finally we are joined by Jon from East Street Arts talking about the importance of visual street art, large and small.

Photograph by Shui.

Find us on Facebook, Instagram and X and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.

You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists!

Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

Film director and actor Richard Weston chats about his latest film 'Sparked', a drama about boxing and men's mental health set in working class Birkenhead. Richard talks about his love for film, his own experiences of mental health as well as the importance of boxing clubs for working class communities. To listen to a song chosen by Richard, head on over to episode #25: Rage Is Valid.

Find us on Facebook, Instagram and X and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.

You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists!

Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

Our full, unedited interview with poet and activist Shareefa Energy. We discuss her jounrey into performing, her work in the West Bank of Palestine and the power of political poetry.

A poem performed by Shareefa and a song she selected can be heard on episode #25 of the Vandal Factory podcast 'Rage Is Valid'.

Find us on Facebook, Instagram and X and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.

You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists!

Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

Arts & activism, hope & anger, solidarity & rage!

Henry & Natalie are back with an interview with indomitable poet and activist Shareefa Energy, who talks about her journey into performance poetry. Film director and actor Richard Weston chats about his latest film 'Sparked', a drama about boxing and men's mental health set in working class Birkenhead. Plus Khairani Barokka shares one of her latest poems from brand new collection 'amuk', and theatre director Viv Gordon shares a song that inspires her work.

We also discuss the importance and plight of freelancers in the arts sector, play some banging tunes and shout out student activism across the world!

Find us on Facebook, Instagram and X and search Vandal Factory Playlist on Spotify.

You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists!

Support us on at patreon.com/VandalFactory.

For months in Leeds, a sparky crew of photographers and video-makers have been documenting the demos. They've been capturing moments of anger, grief, hope and community with the sharpest shots. We gathered a handful of these snappers to discuss technique, story-telling and camaradiere.

You can find their inspiring photos on Instagram:

imdmilo

racheloleary_

kholaandhercamera

tammyshafi

sumaiyyashafi

and honourable mentions to:

mikebettney

outcast77

We are the artists! We won't be silenced!

Henry and Natalie storm MPF with a special live episode about hope, anger, arts and activism. The duo are joined by folk-punk shredder Erica Freas who plays a few tunes and talks about the value of softness to be powerful. Next up is Liv Wynter: punk poet, host, play-wright and musician. We talk about class, Palestine and their high energy night How To Catch A Pig!

Henry performs a poem and Natalie provokes the audience!

"Punk is valuable, but guess what, you can be soft and be just as powerful." - Erica Freas.

Find us on social media and our playlist on Spotify!

You can support the podcast on Patreon! For as little as £1 a month you can be a mega legend and help make these podcasts...and allow us to commission other artists! Info here: patreon.com/VandalFactory.