Billy Bragg On Current Music Scene: 'There Aren't Enough Protest Songs'

Veteran English rocker Billy Bragg was best known for his politically-themed folk (punk) music throughout the '80s, as well as his passion for protests and left-wing activism. 

However in an upcoming appearance on ABC's TV interview series, Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery, the 57-year-old musician says that there are not enough protest songs being written by today's younger artists, though they aren't to blame.

"I don’t think it’s because young people aren’t political," Bragg explains to TV host Julia Zemiro. 

"My sense of it is is that when I was 19, if I wanted to get my views about the world out there, there was only really one platform open to me and that was to learn to play the guitar, write songs and do gigs."

"In that sense, in the 20th century music itself was our social medium."

Bragg believes that the digital age has played a massive part in the shift of how artists write music in today's world compared to how his generation did so. 

"If you wanted to know what your generation was thinking, you would either listen to records or read the music papers," Bragg says.

"Now if you’re 19 and want to know what your generation is thinking, you can look on Twitter or Facebook or Instagram… if you’re angry about the world you can write a blog."

The artist known as the 'Bard Of Barking' believes that the internet has both a positive and negative impact on young artists. 

"More people can engage in that way but the downside to that is no body is ever going to invite you to Sydney to read out your tweets."

The full episode follows Bragg as he guides Zemiro through his home in north-east London, as well as memorable childhood locations such as his primary school. 

Keep your eyes peeled for a special sequence in which Bragg and Zemiro busk together on the streets of London to his classic tune, A13 Trunk Road To The Sea. 

The episode is set to hit Aussie screens on Wednesday, 22 July.

Other guests coming up on Home Delivery include: paralympian Kurt Fearnley (July 1); UK comedian Jo Brand (July 8); Waleed Aly (July 15); Ita Buttrose (July 29); chef Matt Moran (August 5); Mandy McElhinney (August 12).