The Great Escape Music Festival Faces Boycott Over Gaza Conflict
In a shocking turn of events, keynote speakers and headliners slated to perform at the UK’s renowned Great Escape music festival in Brighton have decided to boycott this year’s event in solidarity with the war in Gaza.
The Guardian reports that a number of acts have withdrawn from the festival in protest of its sponsorship by Barclays Bank, which campaigners claim has increased investments in arms companies trading with Israel.
Bands Boycott Barclays (BBB), the driving force behind the boycott, has accused the bank of “laundering its reputation” by associating with the music festival, a claim vehemently denied by Barclays.
A spokesperson for BBB revealed to the BBC that a total of 163 acts, four showcases, and two venues have decided to pull out of the festival in support of the boycott.
The Great Escape is a highly anticipated annual music festival in Brighton that serves as a platform for emerging artists from all corners of the globe. It offers a plethora of live performances across multiple venues, as well as industry panels and networking opportunities.
Over the years, The Great Escape has been instrumental in propelling the careers of notable artists like Stormzy, AlunaGeorge, Fat White Family, and Anna Calvi.