Barclays stops sponsoring British festivals after backlash

Within the last hour, it was announced that Barclays has pulled its sponsorship of all Live Nation festivals in the UK. This announcement comes after days of public scrutiny and pressure, and after bands threatened to, or actually pulled out of, festivals such as Download, due to the bank’s business dealings with arms companies involved in Israel’s current operations in Gaza.

A spokesman for Bands Boycott Barclays, one of the main protest groups targeting Download and other festivals such as the Isle of Wight Festival, Camp Bestival and Latitude Festival with a boycott, described the bank’s withdrawal as a “victory”.

“This is a victory for the Palestinian-led global BDS movement. As musicians, we were appalled that our music festivals were cooperating with Barclays, which is complicit in the genocide in Gaza through investments, loans and guarantees for arms companies that supply the Israeli military. Hundreds of artists took action this summer to make it clear that this is morally reprehensible, and we are glad that we were heard.

“Our demand to Barclays is simple: withdraw from genocide or face further boycotts. A boycott of Barclays, Europe’s largest financier of fossil fuels, is the least we can do to bring about change.”

The bank’s decision does not cover the full five-year sponsorship deal it signed with Live Nation last year. Commenting on the decision, a Barclays spokesperson said the bank had been asked to withdraw from the festivals and had agreed. They also said the band would continue to work with the defence contractors in question.

“Barclays has been asked and agreed to suspend participation in the remaining Live Nation festivals in 2024. Barclays customers who hold tickets to these festivals will not be affected and their tickets will remain valid. The protesters want Barclays to de-bank arms companies, a sector to which we remain committed as it is an essential part of the security of this country and our allies.

“They have resorted to intimidation of our staff, repeated vandalism of our stores and online harassment. The only thing this small group of activists will achieve is to weaken essential support for cultural events enjoyed by millions of people. It is time for leading politicians, business leaders, academics and artists to stand together against this.”

It must be said that it is not okay to attack and harass ordinary bank employees if that is indeed the case. However, other forms of protest are possible as long as no physical harm is caused to other people…

In the days leading up to the bank’s decision, bands such as Scowl, Pest Control, Ithaca, Speed ​​and Zulu cancelled their participation in Download, and Dying Wish threatened to do the same if Barclays was no longer involved with the festival. Last month, more than 100 bands and artists cancelled their participation in the Great Escape Festival for exactly the same reasons.

In light of today’s news, Dying Wish released a statement announcing that they will therefore be performing at Download.

“Download have informed us that they have officially removed Barclays as a sponsor of their festival – we will be playing tomorrow as planned. We didn’t want to disappoint anyone and are celebrating the news that the boycott was successful. A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this possible. We appreciate the understanding and support as we stand by something that really matters to us. We are so proud to be part of a community that can come together and make a change. That being said – we can’t wait to see you on the Dogtooth stage tomorrow at 4.40pm. With love, solidarity and a free Palestine forever.”

As for the other bands that have cancelled, Scowl, Zulu, Speed ​​and Pest Control will play a sold-out benefit show for Palestine in Birmingham tonight.