⁣Founder, Cambel McLaughlin joins Hearts of Oak to discuss the upcoming, and second Jam for Freedom Festival and he shares his journey as a musician and English teacher. We examine the roots of the movement that was created in response to COVID tyranny and lockdowns and despite challenges and arrests, Cambel remains dedicated to spreading positivity through music and has received high praise and help from the legends Eric Clapton and Van Morrison. We explore the festival's organisation and artists, featuring the likes of our good friends Right Said Fred and the awesome Five Times August and the many workshops and talks highlighting community spirit and underlining music's role in promoting freedom and unity. In the midst of lockdowns in June 2020, Cambel McLaughlin took his 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 them. In December of that year further COVID tyranny and draconian measures increased against musicians and the general population with another lockdown. Cambel then changed the name of his project to 'Jam for Freedom', his aim being to bring the world’s musicians together in a day of solidarity, called the ‘Jam for Freedom Day’. 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 their cause, giving funds to upgrade their modest busking rig, but what propelled the project to international awareness was Eric Clapton featuring JFF in his music video for ‘This Has Gotta Stop’. Cambel instantly received emails from across the world from people wanting to join in, going from having two chapters in Ireland and the UK, to having 15 and growing. Jam for Freedom Festival 2024 August 8th- 11th | St Albans, Hertfordshire See Right Said Fred, Joseph Arthur, Five Times August, Sons of Cream and enjoy 4 days and nights of 150 liberating performances, workshops, panels, comedy and pantomime plus all-day children's entertainment and activities! TICKETS jamforfreedom.com/festival Connect with Cambel and Jam for Freedom... WEBSITE jamforfreedom.com X x.com/jamforfreedom Interview recorded 22.5.24 Connect with Hearts of Oak... X/TWITTER x.com/HeartsofOakUK WEBSITE heartsofoak.org/ PODCASTS heartsofoak.podbean.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA heartsofoak.org/connect/ SHOP heartsofoak.org/shop/