Kneecap have claimed the UK government blocked the grant, or the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) funding award, worth £15,000 in a bid to “silence” them. The BPI has said it was “disappointed” with the decision made by the government in not approving the grant, despite funding under the Music Export Growth Scheme being recommended by an independent panel.

A letter from Phoenix Law seeking a judicial review of the decision made by Badenoch claims the action is “state-sponsored censorship“, adding that the decision contravenes the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The law firm also states that the decision violates the Windsor framework, a post-Brexit trade deal that sets out Northern Ireland’s rights in regards to the UK and the EU.

Our team has assembled https://t.co/JhzjuQctZB

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) February 9, 2024

A spokesperson for Kemi Badenoch has said, “We fully support freedom of speech, but it’s hardly surprising that we don’t want to hand out UK tax money to people that oppose the United Kingdom itself.”

Kneecap, posting on X, has said in a statement, “We’ve been blocked from receiving significant music funding because a Tory Minister doesn’t like our art. F*ck the Tories.”

The leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, an Irish nationalist party in Northern Ireland, Colum Eastwood, has called the decision by Badenoch to overturn the decision to grant the funding “highly irregular”.

He has said, “It would be unacceptable if the British Government had instituted a policy of defunding groups because they support Irish Unity, Scottish Independence, Welsh Independence or any other change to the constitutional status quo. Worse, in the context of Northern Ireland it may represent a breach of the British Government’s obligations under the treaty signed after the Good Friday Agreement which includes a commitment to exercise power on the basis of parity of esteem between communities in the North.”

He added, “Art is meant to be challenging. You don’t have to agree with an artist or group to understand the importance of funding creators who challenge the status quo and the establishment. I have submitted a number of Parliamentary Questions to establish what has happened here. If there has been a change of funding policy to make that more difficult then Kemi Badenoch needs to come clean about it.”

Kneecap, formed in 2017, frequently visit the topic of Irish nationalism in their music and sing in both Irish and English. They have released one album, 3CAG (2018), and plan on touring North America next month.

Listen to “Get Your Brits Out” below:

This esteemed platform not only provides an opportunity for emerging talent to shine but also welcomes established artists from across Northern Ireland to captivate audiences with their artistry.

The festival will feature performances in various locations throughout Portrush and Portstewart, know as the music trail. With a lineup of 40 artists and more than 20 venues, the event spans across three days, providing a broad platform for both emerging talent and established artists from all corners of Northern Ireland.

Venues will include the recently renovated Portrush Playhouse, The Station, and Elephant Rock. These additions to the music trail are set to enhance the overall experience. Snow Water, in collaboration with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, has meticulously curated this year’s festival program. It will showcase esteemed acts from previous Atlantic Sessions, known for consistently delivering sold-out shows.

Renowned artists such as, The Bonnevilles, No Oil Paintings, and esteemed singer-songwriters like Ciaran Lavery, Matt McGinn, and ROE, will grace the stage, presenting their latest albums from 2022 and unveiling new releases. Notably, select performances will be featured during the highly anticipated ‘Sunday Session’ hosted by Ralph McLean.

The Atlantic Sessions has transcended from more than a mere music festival, as it embodies a profound appreciation for Northern Irish culture and offers a captivating exploration of the region’s rich musical heritage. Attendees are invited to embark on an enchanting musical odyssey, tracing pathways that wind through esteemed music venues, exquisite restaurants, luxurious hotels, and vibrant bars, resulting in a riveting tapestry that entwine music and local culture seamlessly.

Having only a few years ago said “I’m apolitical. I’ve got nothing to say about politics whatsoever” it seems Van has made quite the U-turn in recent years. With these songs he joins a growing list of high profile anti-vaxers such as Eric Clapton, Robert DeNiro, Charlie Sheen, Selma Blair, Jim Carey, and Jessica Biel, in his criticism of his countries handling of the pandemic. Few public announcements of doubt have led to a legal showdown though, for that the esteemed singer-songwriter raises his head above the parapet.

The Northern Ireland Department of Health told the BBC it would not comment on active legal matters, but it seems Morrison wasn’t the first to draw blood. Back in November 2021 Robin Swann issued proceedings against the singer following a cancelled hotel gig where Morrison chanted that the Health Minister was “very dangerous” after a last minute blanket ban on live music forced him to lay down his guitar in defeat. Swann’s proceedings against Morrison also included reference to an interview he had done where he called Swann a “fraud” and again made reference to him being “dangerous”. Morrison’s legal team responded at the time by saying “Mr Morrison asserts within that defence that the words used by him related to a matter of public interest and constituted fair comment.”

It’s all got a little sticky then, with all the back and forth it’s difficult to know who will end up on top and what that victory will actually mean for whoever claims it. Until Van reveals on what grounds he is pursuing legal action we won’t know, but he’ll certainly have an uphill struggle against the legal muscle the Northern Irish government is likely to put behind their defence.

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A post shared by Sound Diplomacy (@sound_diplomacy)

The strategy is aimed at helping both musicians and their listeners to get back into ‘normal’ music habits and continuing those habits after the pandemic ends. The strategy is a four-step plan that will help Sound Diplomacy to create a comprehensive and accurate strategy. They are currently on Step 2. The steps, which are listed on Sound Diplomacy’s website, are as follows:

Step 1: Inception and Ideation – October – November 2020 (completed): This step is the creation of the plan by bringing together key stakeholders across the community, UNESCO City of Music Steering Committee and Belfast City Council to establish objectives, timescales, deliverables and outcomes.

Step 2: Ecosystem Assessment – December 2020 – March 2021: An extensive literature review of available regulations, ordinances and policies that are related to the Belfast music scene. This will then be followed by sectoral engagement, including a survey (that is available to answer now), interviews and roundtable discussions.

Step 3: Economic Impact Assessment – January – May 2021:  Sound Diplomacy will then establish the direct, indirect and induced economic value of the music ecosystem in Belfast. This will include calculating the percentage of jobs in the music ecosystem compared to the wider economy and the growth or contraction of music from the last decade.

Step 4: Final Report, Recovery Plan and Implementation Plan – July 2021: All the findings will then be presented in a report that will serve as the blueprint for moving forward to revive and grow Belfast’s music sector.

The survey is available here, it’ll be used to understand people’s music habits and create cultural infrastructure mapping.

The announcement, on Stendhal Festival’s Instagram says; “Expect special performances from some of the very best talent the island of Ireland has to offer, beer gardens, delicious food and perhaps best of all, over 20 acres of outdoor scenic countryside to enjoy.”

The event will take place in Ballymully Cottage Farm in Limavady. The two confirmed weekends so far will be August 21st-22nd and August 28th-29th. The organisers hope that the festival could be spanned over five weekends in August and September, but for now only these weekends are confirmed. The event will hold between five hundred and a thousand people per day.

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Live music outdoors? Stendhal Festival presents: Unlocked. A series of weekends focussed on freedom at Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady. Expect special performances from some of the very best talent the island of Ireland has to offer, beer gardens, delicious food and perhaps best of all, over 20 acres of socially distant outdoor scenic countryside to enjoy. Subject to licence. More info coming very soon. @leoboydprints #lockdown #irishmusic #causewaycoastandglens #northernireland #discoverireland #goplayoutside #exploremore #niexplorer #summervibes #newmusic

A post shared by Stendhal Festival (@stendhalireland) on Jun 22, 2020 at 11:30am PDT

Festival director Ross Parkhill has said in a statement: “We are confident that we have come up with an event plan that will make going to outdoor music events safer than going to the supermarket. We will be liaising with the local council, the police, fire service and ambulance service to ensure that we have covered every possible eventuality and how it could relate to social distancing and health and safety.”

The organisers have stressed how important is to make sure everyone follows the social distancing rules along with the other measures they have put in place, in order for the event to run smoothly. The rules are as follows:

1. Camp plots will be 8m x 8m in size and only two people can stay in each tent.
2. Festival goers will have to maintain a 2m distance, unless the government shorten it to 1m.
3. There will also be a daily limit on the amount of alcohol consumed. Drinks will be purchased using drink tokens and people will be limited to between six and eight drinks a day, as social distancing will be harder to maintain if people are drunk.
4. Toilets will be cleaned after every use.
5. There will be temperature checking stations at every entry point to the event.
6. There will also be a medical isolation tent in case someone develops symptoms while at the event.

The event is subject to chance, depending on the government guidelines. No acts have been confirmed just yet, but are expected over the next few days. Tickets to the first two confirmed weekends will go on sale this Saturday 4th of July.

For more information see: www.stendhalfestival.com/unlocked/

In a Facebook post made yesterday on the band’s official page, Ash told fans that, “As gutting as it is to tell you, I don’t think anyone will be surprised to hear that we once again have to reschedule our tour dates due to the Coronavirus pandemic.” They hope to be “on the other side of this” by next spring, with fans able to attend performances without risk to health and wellbeing. They assure their supporters that they know they miss seeing the shows “as much as we miss playing,” signing off with, “Big love. Ash.”

The post was shared on the band’s other social media platforms, including their official Twitter page, @ashofficial, where fans have taken to the comments to question the status of certain tour dates, make requests for visiting performances to their home cities (Birmingham is a particularly popular destination), or simply reminisce on past shows they had seen, loved and continue to hold dearly in their hearts.

I don't think anyone will be surprised to hear that we again have to reschedule our tour dates due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Hopefully by next spring we will all be on the other side of this & able to safely attend shows that we know you are missing as much as we are. Big love pic.twitter.com/EbQEpqgjkU

— ASH (@ashofficial) May 30, 2020

As one tweeter commented, speaking of his experience at the band’s Oslo performance, “I’ve never been more happy defying the cold weather on a Sunday to go to what could very well be the last great show in 2020.” For those keen on forging new memories at upcoming live shows, the complete list of future tour dates has been shared by Ash on their official website, and is listed in full here:

• 11/08/2020 – Concorde 2, Brighton
  
• 12/08 – Picturedrome, Holmfirth

• 14/09 – Sugarmill, Stoke
• 22/09 – Arts Club, Liverpool
• 29/09 – Cyprus Avenue, Cork
• 30/09 – Dolans Warehouse, Limerick

• 01/10 – Roisin Dubh, Galway

• 10/03/2021 – O2 Academy, Newcastle Upon Tyne
• 11/03 – Beckett University Union, Leeds
• 12/03 – O2 Academy, Bristol
• 14/03 – O2 Ritz, Manchester
• 15/03 – SWG3, Glasgow
• 17/03 –  Rock City, Nottingham
• 18/03 – Pyramids Centre, Portsmouth
• 19/03 – Roundhouse, London

It will be the quartet’s first release since 2011’s Revival, and their fourth album in total. Spectacular certainly didn’t take long to get attention, as within fifteen minutes the video had been taken down by Youtube bigwigs, due to the graphic sex scenes and nudity on display. As the video shows a house party it was to be expected, as all the best house parties contain at least one of the aforementioned, normally coming in pairs. Unfortunately we can’t show you the video, but if you believe you are old enough to not get over-excited by a pair of boobs, a bit of sex going on and smoking and alcohol, and of course over the age of 18, then follow this link here to fulfil your banned video needs. There is a clean version, without what has been listed above, which will be able to watch at the bottom of the page. http://www.muzu.tv/theanswer-napalmrecords/spectacular-music-video/1965670/

In celebration of the release of New Horizon The Answer will be going on tour around the UK and Ireland this October. If you like your music loud, your riffs heavy combined with a lot of booze, get yourself to one of these dates.

Friday 11th – Limelight 2, Belfast

Saturday 12th – Whelans, Dublin

Thursday 17th – Academy 3, Manchester

Friday 18th – Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton

Saturday 19th – Cockpit, Leeds

Sunday 20th – Corporation, Sheffield

Tuesday 22nd – The Garage, Glasgow

Wednesday 23rd – 02 Academy, Newcastle

Thursday 24th – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

Friday 25th – Electric Ballroom, London

Saturday 26th – The Thekla, Bristol

Sunday 27th – Concorde 2, Brighton

You can find the (clean) video for Spectacular here. New Horizon hits stores on September 30th.