Episode 29: The 'Political' in Northern Irish Protestant Marching Bands, by Sean French.

Camthropod

This podcast examines the shifting sonic politics of the marching band scene in Derry, Northern Ireland. 20 years ago, Protestant parading in Derry was a source of intense political conflict but over the years it has become less controversial due to inter-community collaboration. However, tensions remain. Sean French and his interlocutors discuss how different political styles sound and how acoustic experience intersects with political marginalization. Through ideas around rowdiness, volume, and voice, French shows how marching band members in contemporary Northern Ireland negotiate different political stances and forms of identification. Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Richard Holland and the East Bank Protestant Boys, everyone at Bready Ulster Scots Pipe Band, and everyone at the North West Cultural Partnership. I am so grateful for all you've done for me, and I would be nowhere without your kindness letting me be a temporary part of the marching band world in Derry. Sean French is a third year Social Anthropology PhD student at the University of Cambridge. (https://www.socanth.cam.ac.uk/staff/sean-french-2020)