Barclaycard was removed from the websites of festivals like Download, Latitude and Isle of Wight in recent days as it suspended its sponsorship of the events. It comes after several bands, including the bands Pest Control, Speed, Scowl, Zulu and Ithaca withdrew from Download, which starts on Friday in Leicestershire. A spokesperson for Live Nation said: “Following discussion with artists, we have agreed with Barclays that they will step back from sponsorship of our festivals.
” In a statement on Instagram, Pest Control wrote: “We will not take part in an event whose sponsor profits from facilitating a genocide.” Meanwhile, Ithaca wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Whilst we hate letting anyone down, this moment of solidarity sends a powerful message to the organisers about where the younger generation of bands stand.” Tom Morello, guitarist of Rage Against The Machine, which will play at Download, said: “The fact that the festival has listened to its musicians and cut ties with Barclays Bank is a testament to the power of artists taking collective action for human rights.
“I’ve been pushing hard for this behind the scenes and I salute all the artists like Zulu, Scowl and Speed who have taken a stand to help make this historic withdrawal happen.” Campaign group Bands Boycott Barclays, which has been leading the protests, said 163 acts, four showcases and two venues previously pulled out of the Barclaycard-sponsored Great Escape festival in Brighton in May. Follo.
