Last Saturday (February 20), after the afternoon pre-event Writings on the Wall - it was time to go Underground.

As a volunteer for Ctrl.Alt.Shift, I got to experience most sides of the night. Between catching up with other HQ crew Ben Anderson and Dwain Lucktung on the Ctrl.Alt.Shift desk, manning the door with Tekla Balfour and chasing the acts in the artist bar, I got a feel for why everyone wanted to be involved.

I flowed through Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall, catching snippets of the best. While the Front Room hummed with chat and appreciation for the array of artists and DJs taking to the stage, around the corner you could add your face to the digital peace projection (with live photographs being featured above stage), get crafty with a needle and thread with the activist group Craftivist Collective, or print your own poster with Print Club London. It was nothing less than an indoor fun fair. Sasha, 19 told me, “Everyone at United Underground 2 is experiencing something they wouldn’t normally experience.” It was true - I’d never stitched, printed or revelled in grime to underline issues of conflict before.

I spoke to Veronica, 28 who came to United Underground 1 in July last year: “The line up’s good, music’s good. The vibe will, errr, get there” I could almost see what she meant. At times the QEH did seem a little quiet for an event so large. But with so much to do, including an exclusive showing of the Shock Doctrine, based on Naomi Klein’s book, and the chance to watch the five Ctrl.Alt.Shift short films - this was more like a festival.

Beyond the activity in the Front Room was the Purcell room, where Riz MC Ahmed, our best friend and partner host for the night along with British Underground, took to the couch to interview experts and activists, interspersed with music, during which people could come and go, sit back, relax and explore the issues. I caught Riz’s interview with Christian Aid journalist Sarah Wilson on the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. Discussing the US military intervention, Sarah simply said, “It wasn’t perfect… but it was positive.” Afterwards, I spoke to Vincent, 23, who was quick to praise Sarah’s take on the situation: “It was great to hear what happens to the money you donate. Sarah Wilson physically addressed the issues, and didn’t talk around the topic… it impacted on me more than I expected.” Alliz, 21, agreed, saying, “She was very honest, frank and logical.”

Singer Aruba Red then hit the stage for a confident set, giving me good reason to stick around after. Mixing her sultry vocals with occasional electronic and reggae twists, she was a definite crowd pleaser. I got a couple of words from her as she made her way out: “United Underground’s been really good. Anything that gives a platform for voicing grievances or fighting for change is good - especially if it involves young people.”

Suddenly realising my neglect of the QEH’s other theatre, I went to check on the films next door before heading back to the Purcell Room, where a session with hardcore activist Peter Tatchell beckoned. We keenly listened to him sharing his stories from decades of campaigning for gay rights. To at least three counts of spontaneous applause (with which I joined in enthusiastically) he recounted the story of his almost successful citizens arrest of Robert Mugabe when visiting London: “You should have seen the look on his (Mugabe's) face… an ashen pallor, and I thought; now you know what your victims feel like.” On working with the government through various issues of legislation, including issues of gay rights in the Equalities bill, he said, “Sometimes I work within the system… but when the system doesn’t respond you’ve got to take radical action.” Riz then posed him a great question, asking him about the scope of events like United Underground for change - “Art has great potential to raise awareness” he responded. I asked Peter about the failed response to huge amounts of activism leading up to the climate change summit in Copenhagen; “We have to be in it for the long haul” he urged, “You win some, you lose some… but every single one of us can make a difference.”

After that inspiring conclusion came an equally inspiring band - Broadcast 2000; three lads, a snare drum, a bass drum, a chair, a small guitar and a glockenspiel (NOT a xylophone, as they corrected me later) made up a group that ran like clockwork and sounded like honey. It made my heart swell when Tom Andrews (on glockenspiel) ran to the rescue of Chris Banner on the drum to fix a broken bass pedal. It was a brotherly moment, and only heightened my admiration for their creativity on stage. Oh, and the songs were great too.

Those acts were just a select few I was lucky enough to catch. I recommend this blog for a review of everything that went down that night in the Purnell Room, from the activist and Guardian writer Ben White to the soft folk sounds of singer Olivia Chaney.

Back in the front room, I spoke to Margo, 29, and Antoinette, 29, between stitches, for the Craftivist Collective. Margo took a glance around the room and said, “There’s a great energy tonight…everything’s really integrated.” I asked Antoinette what the group was all about: “At the moment our project is getting people thinking about Sudan and how they can play a role in backing peace in the country.” Seeing these Craftivists calmly sewing to highlight such an important issue, it makes you think twice about the assumption that it’s all about shouting through megaphones to be heard.

Really, that was what United Underground was all about. Getting people to reflect on issues of conflict through things that inspire them. Activism… music… art… talks - all flowed seamlessly into one (well, with seams in the case of the Craftivist Collective); as if there were no barriers between tackling the issues through each creative pursuit. At the end, United Underground was best described by Peter Tatchell - “United, we are stronger.”

Words: Lucy Keen

Photos: Matthew Gonzalez-Noda and Mannray Powell