Bands Withdraw from Victorious Festival Over Flag Controversy

A series of bands have withdrawn from the Victorious Festival in Portsmouth just hours before their scheduled performances. The decision follows an incident involving the Irish folk band The Mary Wallopers, who claimed they were “cut off” during their set after displaying a Palestinian flag. This controversy has ignited discussions about free speech and artistic expression in the music festival landscape.

The bands The Last Dinner Party, The Academic, and Cliffords announced their withdrawal on October 7, 2023, expressing their solidarity with The Mary Wallopers. In a statement shared on social media, The Last Dinner Party expressed their outrage at the festival’s actions, stating, “As Gazans are deliberately plunged into catastrophic famine after two years of escalating violence, it is urgent and obvious that artists use their platform to draw attention to the cause.”

The festival organizers have responded to the situation, claiming that The Mary Wallopers’ set was cut short due to a “discriminatory” chant. They issued an apology for the handling of the situation and promised to make a substantial donation to humanitarian relief efforts for the Palestinian people. They emphasized that the policy against displaying flags is longstanding and intended for event management and safety.

Following the incident, The Mary Wallopers disputed the festival’s claims, stating that they were misrepresented. They released a video showing a crew member from the festival removing the flag from the stage and subsequently cutting the sound after a chant of “Free Palestine.” Their statement criticized the festival for attempting to silence their message and asserted their right to express their views during performances.

In their own announcements, both The Academic and Cliffords expressed their commitment to free speech. The Academic said they could not “in good conscience” perform at an event that suppresses artistic expression, while Cliffords stated they “refuse to play if we are to be censored for showing our support to the people of Palestine.”

As the festival continued, organizers released another statement acknowledging the miscommunication and the resulting distress for both the bands and festival attendees. They reiterated their support for artists’ rights to express their views while clarifying that the flag policy was not intended to limit free expression.

The controversy has drawn attention to the broader implications of political expression in music and public events, particularly concerning sensitive global issues. The festival lineup includes well-known acts such as Vampire Weekend, The Kaiser Chiefs, and Kings of Leon, who are expected to perform over the weekend.

As the situation unfolds, it highlights the balance between artistic freedom and event policies, raising critical discussions about the role of music in social and political advocacy.