A song of protest it was inspired by the real-life Battle Of The Beanfield which saw a brutal police crackdown on new age travellers heading for Stonehenge in 1985. However it also foreshadowed the introduction of the Criminal Justice Act in 1994, which the Conservative government of the time used to crackdown on free parties, rave culture and festivals.
The Levellers became one of the most high-profile opponents of the CJA and inspired mass protests against its implementation. And now 25 years since it was first released, the nation is once again witnessing a clampdown by authorities on its freedom to rave (most notably with the enforced closure of iconic London nightclub Fabric last week) under a Conservative government.
‘Battle Of The Beanfield’ is the closing track on Levelling The Land. The brand new anniversary edition will be available as a 2CD & 1DVD set featuring the original album, plus a live version recorded at Brixton Academy in 2011 and a DVD of that performance. There will also be a limited edition 2LP coloured vinyl set featuring the original album plus the live version.
Following the release, the band will be embarking on a mammoth UK tour, many fates of which are now sold out, including a performance at London’s Brixton Academy for the 15th time in their career. They will be playing the classic album in full as well as other hits from their 28-year career and will be supported by Ferocious Dog and Gaz Brookfield.
Cherished and maligned in equal measure, Levellers are one of Britain’s finest musical exports as witnessed by the huge North American and Australian tours that precede this release and their victorious UK shows.
NOVEMBER
Wednesday 23rd Cardiff TramShed – SOLD OUT
Thursday 24th Bristol O2 Academy – SOLD OUT
Friday 25th Plymouth Pavilions
Saturday 26th Manchester Academy – SOLD OUT
Sunday 27th Nottingham Rock City – SOLD OUT
Tuesday 29th Newcastle O2 Academy
Wednesday 30th Glasgow Barrowland
DECEMBER
Thursday 1st Leeds O2 Academy
Friday 2nd Portsmouth Guildhall
Saturday 3rd London O2 Academy Brixton
Tuesday 6th Liverpool O2 Academy
Wednesday 7th Norwich UEA – SOLD OUT
Thursday 8th Lincoln Engine Shed
Friday 9th Bournemouth O2 Academy – SOLD OUT
Saturday 10th Birmingham O2 Academy – SOLD OUT
Tickets for Levellers ‘Levelling The Land’ 25th Anniversary tour are on sale now with all dates and links available at www.levellers.co.uk / http://gigst.rs/Levellers.
