Wiltshire’s Shindig Festival, headlined this year by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, could have its license to operate under review following concerns raised about “disorder and public safety.” If the review goes ahead, it could take place on May 18—just days before the festival opens on May 21.
A spokesperson for Shindig Festival said, “we are taking this process seriously and are working closely with our production teams, the artist and relevant authorities to ensure robust measures are in place.” Wiltshire councillor Paul Sample has said the request for review was submitted by an unknown party but that it had been made “on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety.”
This potential review comes after Bob Vylan’s contentious set at Glastonbury last year. During the set, frontman Bobby Vylan led the crowd in chanting “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces].” The comments were condemned by Prime Minister Kier Starmer, who called it “appalling hate speech.”
The performance was the subject of an investigation by the Avon and Somerset Police, but the case was dropped in December. The force said the chanting “[did] not meet the criminal threshold outlined by the CPS for any person to be prosecuted.”
After this, Bob Vylan said in a statement the investigation was “never warranted,” saying their set was “not hateful” but intended to be a “display of solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
Since their Glastonbury set, Bob Vylan has had multiple international shows cancelled, including Radar Festival in Germany. The duo had their US visas revoked ahead of a tour set to take place there. And The Standard also reported they were dropped from their talent agency, United Talent Agency, though UTA never acknowledged this.
Shindig Festival announced Bob Vylan as headliners in February. They called the duo “one of the most vital, fearless and electrifying live acts in the UK right now.” They went on to say, “We believe art should challenge as well as unite. This will be powerful. This will be loud. And above all, it will be Shindig.”
This week, a spokesperson for Shindig told the Local Democracy Reporting Service “clear performance conditions” had been agreed upon with Bob Vylan, amid the potential license review. They added the festival was completing “enhanced planning within [their] event management framework, including specific risk assessments, security measures, and the ability to intervene immediately if required.” Organisers assured that they “are confident the event will be delivered safely, responsibly, and in line with the high standards [they] have maintained over many years.”
A public consultation period will last until May 6. After which, the review will be considered by a sub-committee on May 18. Shindig is set to open its gates on May 21 to 10,00 ticket holders.
