When Ctrl.Alt.Shift (CAS) rolled down to the launch of a club night called Cowboy Tactics (CT) at the Rhythm Factory, London back in March, we knew we had come across something that was set to make movements this year, described as 'a celebration of peaceful resistance through music, film and testimony', it was something that we instantly knew we had to get involved in.

So when the guys at CT offered us the chance of a co-promotion for their next night, on Thursday 11th June in Bristol we jumped on board and took a team of Ctrl.Alt.Shifters along with us. Armed with our activist face and our CAS sign up sheets we hit the Bristol sides and called out the masses for a night of four bands, (Mr Woodnote & Friends, Clayton Blizzard, Toy Face & The Crash! Bang! Boom! and Bartoune) and guest speakers including inspirational Ghada Adeel to show solidarity with the people of Israel/Palestine in the light of the mad injustice that has been plaguing the area for decades.

This night intended to give insight into what life is like on a day to day basis when you are under occupation as are the people of Palestine and was an opportunity for people who were not necessarily in the know, to get in the know. A formula which CAS use on our website on a daily basis, check the website for the mass of information we have on the situation, including Jody McIntyre’s ongoing blog which he is sending direct from occupied Palestine at this very minute.

The bands were amazing on the night, Toy Face & The Crash! Bang! Boom! kicked things off with their own unique style of pantomime jazz, witty clever and sincere lyrics were overlayed with lashings of violin and piano, creating a surprisingly powerful sound from the small outfit. Next came Mr Woodnote and Friends who coolly created complete hip hop tracks using his mouth, his sax and some deft footwork tapping his loopstation. Big respect to the versatility which Mr Woodnote endowed to his instrument, this was complemented on the night by a couple of sick MC’s who came along with him. Then came ice cold jazz from Zen Hussy trio Bartoune with a sound that was taking people back to the 50’s. Clayton Blizzard ended the night with a hilarious anarchistic account of the world performed through the medium of folk poetry, the highlight: Mr Blizzard walking around the intimate show, whispering his lyrics into unsuspecting fans’ ears.

While the bands were booming in club area, the speakers in the other room were inspirational, from Ghada Adeel, a refugee and author speaking of day to day life in the occupied Palestine, talking of the mental impact of being ‘caged in the largest open prison in the world’ to the practical aspects of being denied the basic human necessities to live any familiar life to ours, a speech that humbled the crowd. A tough act to follow, was followed by Dan Judelson of Jews for Justice for Palestinians and Isabelle Humphries, former Development Director Sawt el-Amel, The Labourer's Voice, Nazereth, who both continued to speak in such an interesting and sincere manner towards an already enthralled crowd. The night was capped off by one half of Cowboy Tactics: Philph. E. Burbs, who spoke on his inspiration to set up this night after participating in an olive picking scheme in the west bank a couple of years ago,  his pictures were undisputable and gave an account of the harsh realities that the people of Palestine are currently living under.

All in all, this event was big, a great get together and a chance for the Ctrl.Alt.Shift family to spread our wings towards the southwest sides, in a view of taking over the UK this year.