About

By Cambel McLaughlin, founder of Jam for Freedom.

 

Thank you to all that have participated and supported our international music project. In the midst of lockdowns in June 2020 I brought my portable drum kit and speaker out to local parks to bring cheer and smiles to Londoners. This then developed into  weekly outdoor free gigs named 'The Outside Jam' until the winter cold stopped us. On December 20th of that year further draconian measures increased against musicians and the general population with another lockdown. I then changed the name of my project to 'Jam for Freedom' My aim was to bring the world’s musicians together in a day of solidarity, called the ‘Jam for Freedom’. It was the first of many.

 

After several months of tireless touring around the UK and Ireland with pro-freedom musicians, the project received international recognition from rock and roll great Eric Clapton. Van Morrison’s Rhythm and Blues Foundation also supported our cause, giving us funds to upgrade our modest busking rig, and what propelled the project to international awareness was Eric Clapton’s featuring us in his music video for ‘This Has Gotta Stop’. I instantly received emails from across the world from people wanting to join in. We went from having two chapters in Ireland and the UK that I set up, to having 15 and growing.

 

Three years down the line and over 500 jams later, we are forever grateful for all the support we have received across the world, from the families that have put us up in their homes and to the countless musicians that showed up to perform and support freedom.

 

Our story now lives on.... join us at our annual festival! Details HERE