Local bands headline Trades birthday bash

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Local bands have rallied round to celebrate the Trades Club's 90th
birthday at a special free open air street party on Saturday 3rd May.

The road outside the historic Holme Street club will be closed off from
2pm for sets from Drum Machine, Taste Buds, Multis, Three Valley Gospel
Choir, Des Horsfall and Graham Alexander.

Club President Dongria Kondh said, "It seems fitting that local musicians
help us celebrate this milestone as we have always been a venue that has
supported live music.

"But we are first and foremost a community club so we wanted to put on
this celebration as a public thank you to everyone who has supported us
through the good times, and the bad, over the years.

"We have always thrown our doors open to support issues that impact on our town so the street party will feature contributions from anti-Bedroom tax campaigners and the campaign to stop Halifax A and E services being axed."

The Trades Club was born out of the textile revolution that swept across
the town in the last century with trades unions needing somewhere to meet so they could tackle exploitation and safety issues in local factories.

Their solution was simple - they asked local workers to sponsor a brick for a shilling and the building finally began construction in 1924 complete with spring dance-floor so the workers could enjoy a dance after toiling in the mills

As the textile industry declined so did the need for a large union hall and the building fell into disuse before being rescued by the Labour Party, local and people brought the Trades back to life founding a members club run by an elected committee.

Since then as well as gigs from big names like Patti Smith the club has also provided a platform for local non-conformists to have a voice and campaigns, including active support for the striking miners in the 1980s and more recently the White Ribbon campaign.

In the event of bad weather the party take place inside the club.