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During the controversial set at Glastonbury, frontman Bob Vylan led the crowd in chants including “death, death to the IDF“, along with slogans like “Free Palestine“ and “From the river to the sea.“ The incident sent shockwaves through political circles and drew swift condemnation. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the chants as “appalling hate speech” and demanded an explanation from the BBC. At the same time, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy highlighted a “problem of leadership” within the corporation. The Israeli Embassy described the rhetoric as “deeply disturbing.”

 

 

 

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For Bob Vylan, the repercussions were significant. Avon and Somerset Police launched a criminal investigation into the comments, exploring potential hate crime legislation. The band also faced professional setbacks, including the revocation of US visas and the cancellation of European shows.

The ECU determined that some of these chants could be “fairly characterised as antisemitic” when viewed in total context, particularly remarks targeting record executives described as “Zionists.” However, the ECU found no breach of the BBC’s rules on material likely to encourage or incite crime. It reasoned that the performance was not news coverage but part of a music festival broadcast, and thus subject to more tolerance for expressive content. In the immediate aftermath, the BBC removed the footage from its on-demand services, with Director-General Tim Davie expressing deep regret and Chairman Samir Shah calling it “unquestionably an error of judgment.”

The BBC has ruled that Bob Vylan’s chant of “Death, death to the IDF” and antisemitic slurs at Glastonbury broke its rules on harm and offence — but ludicrously decided that this was not incitement to violence. This absurd decision is yet another an insult to British Jews from… pic.twitter.com/Yaq6BYfipg — Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) September 26, 2025

This ruling highlights a fundamental challenge for the BBC. While the ECU’s distinction is based on a traditional media framework, the public and political responses to the incident demonstrate that this separation is no longer tenable. In a digital environment where live streams coexist with news content, the public does not make the same genre-based distinctions. The BBC’s own reactive policy change to drop ‘high risk’ live streams is a tacit admission that its impartiality policy is in question.

The BBC’s decision to partly uphold complaints over Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance is more than a verdict on one band’s set. It is a signal that the space between protest art and broadcast responsibility is narrowing under public scrutiny. As artists continue to push against political and cultural boundaries, and as audiences demand both accountability and authenticity, broadcasters will face mounting pressure to rethink how they handle moments like this in the future, as they continue to operate in an increasingly polarised time.

Busted’s Matt Willis holds back tears in tribute to James Bourne pic.twitter.com/NPxJSZKWsR — The Sun (@TheSun) September 24, 2025

Willis addressed the crowd directly, saying, “You may have noticed one key face is missing tonight,” before acknowledging Bourne is “really sick” and that the decision to continue the tour had become a fraught conversation among the band. Charlie Simpson, the other core member of Busted, echoed that sentiment, telling fans: “We love him so much and we miss him.” The vulnerable moment, as the band scrambled to find the right words amidst the melancholia, cracked the high-gloss veneer of a stadium show, turning it into something raw and vulnerable. For those in attendance, it was more than a tribute; it was a public recognition of the human costs hidden behind the glitz of arena tours. The news of Bourne’s withdrawal from the tour emerged just hours before the first show was scheduled to take place.

 

 

 

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In a heartfelt Instagram post, Bourne explained that over the previous eight days, it had become clear he was not in sufficiently good health to perform. He admitted that much about his condition remained unknown, and that he and his management team agreed he should pause to focus on medical matters. Bourne, in his Instagram post, added, “I really hope I can be in a position to come back further down the line… It’s still going to be an amazing show, and I will miss being there. See you all as soon as possible.”

Social media swiftly became a forum of support and concern. Fans praised the decision to keep the show alive and showered Bourne with well-wishes. McFly drummer Harry Judd posted, “Won’t be the same without you, dude. Hope you’re back on tour asap.”

In a poignant display of band loyalty, James’s younger brother, Chris Bourne, stepped in to offer essential support on guitar and vocals, helping the remaining members keep the Busted set afloat and honouring the commitment to their fans. For Busted, and particularly for Matt Willis, this on-stage moment was charged with more profound significance. Willis has been publicly transparent about his decades-long battle with addiction and mental health, a struggle he has often linked to the pressures of touring and the music industry machine. The emotional moment underscored the human cost of the high-pressure touring environment, an environment Willis had previously found challenging.

For now, the tour continues. Busted, with Willis and Simpson still fronting, press forward with Chris Bourne filling in. But the future is less specific. Will James return later in the tour? Will his health permit a comeback? Will the emotional weight of this moment shift how they present future shows? Last night’s tribute might be remembered as more than a footnote; it could mark a turning point in how these bands relate to audiences and how tours reckon with the human in the spotlight. For a genre built on yearning, heartbreak, and exuberance, a moment of raw care has made itself visible.

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The LA bass virtuoso will move through mainland Europe from March 5-23  before a week of UK and Ireland dates. The itinerary is ambitious, spanning multiple countries and featuring a significant number of dates across major cities. It includes mult-night residencies in Utrecht, Netherlands and Bristol, UK.

For many, Thundercat is a musician of rare dualities: he can move you with a whisper, then shake the ground with a bass drop; he can be playful and profound, while being intimate and expansive. Thundercat’s 2026 itinerary is more than just a string of gigs. It is a narrative arc for the LA-based artist as he seeks to reconnect with his influences and a community of fans who are eagerly waiting to see how this new chapter unfolds. For a musician whose catalogue balances both virtuosity and vulnerability, this tour feels like a celebration of both.

However, in order for the venue to unlock this money, it needs to raise around £50,000. In order to raise this money, members of the community are being offered the opportunity to buy shares of the venue which will give them voting rights in future running of the studio.

A community share offer is a way to enable those in the Darlington community to invest in The Forum and is a way to raise money for the local project and it enables the money raised to be pooled together.

Alongside the opportunity for investment, The Forum are running a raffle with music-related prizes. Each ticket costs just £5 and all of the money raised will go towards the fundraising efforts.

As reported by the Darlington and Stockton Times, the idea for the raffle emerged when author Pete Bulloch offered up a signed copy of his book, ‘Hope the Dude Can Play.’ The book chronicles one of the most famous nights in Darlington’s music history, following the events that occurred when Jimi Hendrix’ guitar was stolen from the Blue Pad Club in the Imperial Hotel on the evening of February 2, 1967.

Alongside Bulloch’s book, the raffle also features a collage of Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits made up of several genuine back stage and VIP passes from some of the band’s shows. There is also a limited addition Amy Winehouse artwork up for grabs, made by the local artist Terry Kneeshaw.

In response to The Forum’s news of being awarded their investment, founder, CEO and director Allison Mckay said: “This is an exciting phase of growth for our much loved music and arts venue. However the real exciting trigger for these ambitious developments will initiate the launch of a Share Offer enabling local people to become members of The Forum through shared ownership, along with voting rights.”

The renovation plans for The Forum includes a new recording studio with sensory and high-quality digital production in order to enable larger bands and ensembles to record. There are also plans for new private green room facilities, accessible audience viewing mezzanine, and plans to reduce the venue’s carbon footprint by installing solar panels and an eco-friendly roof garden.

The venue also wants to extend their kitchen, with the hopes that the aforementioned changes will increase the number of visitors which will therefore increase the number of opportunities for local food social entrepreneurs to operate a daily food service.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/darlington-music-venue-launches-community-share-offer-to-secure-venues-future/feed/ 0 https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/man-refused-entry-to-o2-over-free-gaza-shirt/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/man-refused-entry-to-o2-over-free-gaza-shirt/#comments Sun, 18 Aug 2024 13:38:37 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=101505 On the 10th of August, a man was barred from entering the O2 Arena for wearing a T-shirt imprinted with the slogan: “Free Gaza.” A video of the incident began to circulate online, and the venue have now issued an official apology, confirming that they would review their policies to prevent an incident like this from occurring again.

The incident occurred last week as a couple were trying to see a Peter Kay live show, but were stopped by a member of security who deemed the shirt inappropriate and against policy. The man’s request to turn the shirt inside out was denied, and he was consequently refused entry.

He was denied entry to the O2 for wearing a t-shirt that said "Free Gaza." pic.twitter.com/ZYUInPamD7

— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) August 16, 2024

AEG Europe, the company that owns the O2, told Middle East Monitor that the couple were not allowed in as the shirt fell under the venue’s ‘prohibited items policy,’ stating that: ‘in our reasonable opinion, [they] may cause danger or disruption to any event or to other visitors’.

The O2 Arena is a multi-purpose indoor entertainment venue located in the Greenwich Peninsula area of London, England. It is one of the largest and busiest music arenas in the world, known for hosting a wide range of events, including concerts, sports, comedy shows, and other entertainment spectacles.

It has hosted some of the biggest names in music and entertainment, including Beyoncé, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, and many others.

The recent incident has brought bad publicity to the O2, however, as it has led to calls on X for people to boycott the venue.

London's O2 arena last week refused entry to a man for wearing a t-shirt with the words 'Free #Gaza', leading to calls to boycott the venue, which has since apologised https://t.co/n4xgl11z55

— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) August 17, 2024

Boycotting brands or companies associated with Isreal’s war on Gaza is not uncommon, with a survey finding that over one-third of consumers are boycotting brands due to perceived stances on the war, using their purchasing power to express political views. This survey included 15,000 individuals from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the UK, US and India.

Many prominent US-companies, such as Starbucks, Coca-Cola, and McDonald’s, are facing significant challenges due to boycotts, despite many of them asserting that they do not support a particular side in the Isreal war on Gaza.

In response to the backlash that the O2 received, they released an official apology, stating that they “sincerely apologise for any offence and upset this incident may have caused.”

As reported in NME, the O2 went on to say: “Safety and security are our paramount priority at all times, and we do everything we can to provide a safe and respectful environment for all our guests. It is for this reason our ‘prohibited items’ policy exists, stipulated in our terms and conditions for all events.”

They will kick off the tour in Leeds at the O2 Academy on the 5th of December, followed by performances in Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Bristol, Sheffield and more, before a big homecoming gig for the Glasgow natives at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on the 21st of December.

This headline UK tour will follow a very busy summer for the Glasgow band, where they will be supporting the Killers on their UK arena tour in 16 dates throughout June and July, and they will then return to Europe in August to perform their first headline tour there since 2016 which will run into September. They are also headlining Sign Of The Times Festival in Hertfordshire in July and will perform a set at BBC Radio 2 In The Park in September in Preston. As well as this they have also announced that they will be doing 22 dates across the US and Canada in January 2025.

The upcoming UK tour dates are:

December 05 2024 – LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
December 06 2024 – MANCHESTER Albert Hall
December 08 2024 – LIVERPOOL Olympia
December 09 2024 – WOLVERHAMPTON Civic at the Halls
December 10 2024 – NOTTINGHAM Rock City
December 11 2024 – MARGATE Dreamland
December 13 2024 – LONDON O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
December 15 2024 – BRISTOL Beacon
December 17 2024 – EASTBOURNE Winter Gardens
December 18 2024 – SHEFFIELD Octagon
December 19 2024 – NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE City Hall
December 21 2024 – GLASGOW OVO Hydro

Tickets go on sale at 9am on the 14th of June and you can buy yours here.

Just Before this announcement of their upcoming UK tour Travis also released their latest single, ‘Bus’, off of their upcoming album ‘L.A. Times’ which is set to be released on the 12th of July and you can pre order a copy here. The new single is the third single released from ‘L.A. Times’ following ‘Raze the Bar’ which saw them joined by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, and Killers’ Brandon Flowers. 

Travis Frontman, Fran Healey, said about the idea behind the song “I was on holiday, staring out the window, watching all the boats bobbing on the sea. I was trying to write a song and nothing was coming. It reminded me of all the years I spent waiting on buses. You never think it’s going to come, but if you wait long enough it usually turns up.” 

He added “In the middle of all these thoughts came a cool little melody and the song was written a few minutes later.” 

The song was accompanied by a new music video which was filmed in Scotland, and directed by Healey himself and it features the band waiting for a bus in the Scottish Highlands for what seems to be a long time as well as the group performing the song by the road. It also has a short guest appearance from comedian and actor Adam Buxton. Check it out below.

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The festival is set to take place on July 24th 2021, over a month after the governments ‘road-map’ date for all lockdown restrictions to be lifted (June 21st!). The Director of Kaleidoscope Festival, Simon Fell, has stated, “to say it’s been a tough last year is a massive understatement, but it’s great to have something to look forward to this summer.”

Fell went on to say, “Kaleidoscope will provide everything you’d want from a festival experience, with loads of green space to explore, the Palace and world class music, comedy and entertainment, all here on one in day in London. To have Groove Armada headlining too, is the stuff summer dreams are made of.It is part of a packed programme we’re preparing at Ally Pally for when restrictions lift, so come and join the fun.”

Groove Armada have recently released their first LP since their 10 year hiatus, Edge of Horizon. The latest album gained wide critical acclaim, gaining 7.5 stars out of 10 from Line Of Best Fit. The duo’s Andy Cato said of the album to NME, “During those studio days, the rest of the world shuts down. There’s an intensity, anyone looking in might say madness, that kicks in when we’re totally lost amongst the instruments, synths and records day and night. But that shared, unspoken feeling that comes when we both know we’ve got it right cuts through as clear as ever.” 

After a 10 year hiatus since their last album @GrooveArmada have finally released their next LP! We recommend you listen to this from start to finish as loud as you can & if you can’t get enough come see them when they headline Kaleidoscope Festival 2021 https://t.co/yiW4ZQnE4d

— Kaleidoscope Festival (@KS_Festival) October 2, 2020

Currently priced at £53.50, the one-dayer will be one you do not want to miss. Performing beside Groove Armada and The Coral will be Greg Wilson, House Gospel Choir and Mr Wilson’s Second Liners.

The relatively new festival has been described as ‘unbeatable’ by Evening Standard, who rewarded them with a 4 star review. The festival hosts DJ’s and Spoken Word, with Irvine Welsh and Phil Wang headlining the Comedy tent.

With many more acts to be announced over the coming months, Kaleidoscope Festival will certainly bring the summer vibes after the long lockdown. Tickets are currently on sale and can be found here.