The fallout from Glastonbury continues as Bob Vylan is pressured to be removed from the Manchester Radar Festival this Saturday.
Following the furore and frankly ridiculous antisemitic labelling of Bob Vylan’s Death to The IDF chants at the Glastonbury last weekend, the band have been pulled from this weekend’s Radar Festival.
Radar Co-organiser Catherine Jackson-Smith appeared on 2 Promoters, 1 Pod to discuss how Bob Vylan were taken off the bill saying that there was pressure from those above the organisers of the festival to cancel Bob Vylan’s set.
Radar is taking place at O2 Victoria Warehouse which is privately co-owned by AMG and Live Nation, and Jackson-Smith says that the organisers weren’t privy to the conversations happening above their heads, but were told if Bob Vylan were to play, the venue doors wouldn’t be open on Saturday, so the festival wouldn’t take place that day.
“We could continue with Bob Vylan as our headliner. If we continued, we wouldn’t have the festival happening on Saturday.”
The conversation starts at 50 minutes.
Over 40 bands are due to play Radar, and now The Scratch have pulled out of the festival on Sunday in solidarity with the silencing of Bob Vylan at the event.
“We will not be performing at Radar Festival this weekend.
The censorship and de-platforming of artists speaking out against the ongoing genocide in Gaza is greasy, dangerous and must be challenged. To be clear, this decision is not a criticism of Radar Festival. We understand it was an incredibly difficult and complex situation. This is about showing solidarity with Bob Vylan and any artist who may face similar treatment in the future.”
“Shadowy government influence and wealthy lobbying groups should not be allowed to dictate who is given a platform and what can be said on it.
This situation will only worsen unless we, as artists, support one another and take action.
Get Netanyahu to the ICJ.
Up Bob Vylan. Free Palestine.”
The band ĠENN also cancelled their set in a show of solidarity.
Bob Vylan meanwhile have had the US visas revoked and have been dropped by their booking agent UTA.
The BBC meanwhile have stepped down the director of Music and staff in response to last weekend’s Glasto coverage, and will no longer live stream “high risk performances.”
Orwellian.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
