PJ Harvey’s ultimate ‘Brexit Blues’ playlist
Years after the fact, there are still moments when we’re overwhelmed by a profound and passionate sense that Brexit was a regrettable mistake. Among all industries, the decision to leave Europe has had an immense impact on music, making touring significantly more challenging for musicians of all levels. PJ Harvey is just one example of an artist who feels the blues of Brexit.
In August 2023, it was reported that a quarter of all music industry workers have had no work in Europe since Brexit came into play. The new rules on Visas and travelling in and out of Europe make the process of touring a logistical nightmare and a costly one at that.
Discussing the situation, one industry worker said: “An extra day of travel is required to go in and out of the EU. This means the vehicle has to leave a day early for an EU tour, adding an extra day of van hire, extra day of backline hire, extra day of wages for all crew and extra day of wages for all musicians.”
By now, even the government has admitted there’s an issue. In 2021, the House of Commons Culture Committee said that Brexit had “created barriers affecting both the movement of musicians and their supporting ecosystem (in the form of visas and work permits) and the movement of goods such as equipment and merchandise”. But we could’ve told you this would happen the day it was all first suggested.
But the tidal waves from the huge political decision are felt way beyond just our tiny island. At her Glastonbury set in 2016, Harvey was a vocal opponent of the decision. She recited the John Donne poem ‘No Man Is An Island’.
The poem reads, “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” Maybe if David Cameron had considered those words, we wouldn’t be in this mess.
However, it happened, and PJ Harvey clearly had the blues as she compiled a playlist for the occasion. Featuring cuts from political songwriters like Billy Bragg and Bob Dylan, as well as Patti Smith, who is always a vocal supporter of the good side of things, it’s a roaring and cathartic lineup.
Ranging from upbeat, raging rock songs to get the anger out to sad, slow cuts to sit with you in your pain, PJ Harvey perfectly captured the mess of upset, disbelief and frustration we’re all still feeling towards the whole situation.
