If you take a walk into the centre of Bridgwater you’ll see a signpost with fingers pointing to our different partner towns around the world. Pointing directly to the West is the US city of Seattle. The reason we have this interesting link is because of our town’s connection with Clash frontman Joe Strummer who moved to the area, loved our town calling Bridgwater ‘a Clash Town’ and at his last gig at the Palace raised money to help found the Engine Room project. He died a month later in December 2002.  In 2016 Bridgwater and Seattle linked up signing a punk twinning declaration through the auspices of KEXP Radio in the USA which runs an ‘International Clash Day’ every year which we like to take part in. This year the date will be Friday February 5th and all day long they will be broadcasting Clash music from 5am to 7pm -US Pacific time- which means 1pm to 3am UK Atlantic (Bridgwater Bay) time.

Bridgwater Town Council Leader Brian Smedley, who played bass with bottom of the bill support act ‘The Visitors’ at the Palace, said “If you like Clash music and want to celebrate Joe Strummer then join KEXP for International Clash Day 2021 – all day long on Friday, February 5th. They’ll be playing the Clash, of course, but also looking into the band’s influences, as well as some of the  music being made all around the world that shares their ethos as a band. Joe Strummer said ‘We’re anti-fascist, we’re anti-violence, we’re anti-racist, and we’re pro-creative. We’re against ignorance.’ That sounds a pretty good ethos to me.”

KEXP

Tune in on Friday, Feb. 5 from 5 AM to 7 PM PT on 90.3 KEXP, KEXP.org, and the KEXP App to listen to the broadcast. And make sure to follow KEXP socials for even more stories about the Clash, the artists and movements that inspired them as well as who they inspired.

Bridgwater’s Strummer link here

KEXP link here

KEXP ‘Strummer Day’ featured articles here.

Bridgwater’s Clash Day proclamation below