Chumbawamba have an aversion to the cities, preferring the out of town venues which most bands avoid. The last time Designer Magazine saw the Wamba it was a full band show at Bury Met, this time at Ashton-Under-Lyne with the 8 piece band on a sabbatical, Boff, Lou, Neil and Jude are playing a series of acoustic shows over the summer. These shows are prelude to the forthcoming album which see's them carrying on where "English Rebel Songs" left of. With no samples, keyboards or drum machines in sight you could say that the band are bringing back the art of the protest song. And readers you can never have enough protest songs. Designer Magazine sent our photographer Shirlaine Forrest down to the Witchwood to capture the guys in action

Words: Alex McCann
Photos: Shirlaine Forrest  www.shirlainephotos.co.uk