Latest news with #LeftField
The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Glastonbury Festival: A haven of rhythm and resistance
Chants of 'free, free Palestine' reverberated on the grounds of Worthy Farms, and Palestinian flags flooded the venue as artists from across the spectrum voiced their support for Palestinian resistance. For five days every summer, the ceremonial county of Somerset in England becomes the epicenter of countercultural movements and political resistance. The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, which first began in 1970, has entertained diverse music genres over the decades. However, it has steadfastly stuck to its left-wing politics. Last week, the founder of what is now the largest music festival in the UK, Michael Eavis, said that anyone who didn't agree with the politics of the festival 'can go somewhere else.' While the festival grew in popularity and scale through the 1970s, it was in the 80s that it truly came into its own by building a space for activism and politics within its fences. In 1981, the festival was organised in conjunction with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, an organisation that advocates for unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament, and tighter international arms regulation. Environmental activism Over the years, environmental activism has become a core issue that united festivalgoers and organisers. Today, Glastonbury is powered by 100% renewable energy sources, and single-use plastic is banned on the premises. The festival takes a break every five years to let the farmland on which it is hosted breathe and rejuvenate. So in 2026, Somerset will not see droves of passionate people organise, groove, and agitate against the powers that be. In 2000, musician Billy Bragg and his partner Juliet Wills organised the Left Field stage at Glastonbury to tackle apathy and promote left-wing politics and trade unionism among young festivalgoers. This eventually turned into a regular fixture at the festival. The stage features left-wing musicians who champion anti-establishment sentiments, and political comedians like Mark Thomas. It is also a site of political speeches and debates. Keeping up this legacy, in 2017, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was invited to speak at the main stage of the festival, called the Pyramid Stage, which was built for the first time in 1970 after taking inspiration from the Pyramid in Giza. Charities like Oxfam contribute manpower in the form of volunteers who keep the festival running. In return, the festival donates its profits to these organisations. Dissent in 2025 This year, too, the resistance is bubbling with intensity at the Worthy Farm grounds. Irish singer-songwriter Cmat and rock band the Libertines voiced their support for a free Palestine during their sets, while former BBC presenter Gary Lineker echoed the sentiment after concluding his talk at the festival. Other singers and speakers turned up in keffiyeh scarves to indicate their solidarity with the cause. Musician Nadine Shah performed her set in front of a backdrop showing the destruction in Gaza. She went on to read an open letter from Artists for Palestine UK in support of the activist group Palestine Action, which the UK executive is planning to declare a terrorist organisation. Irish rap trio Kneecap took to the stage to address U.K. politics and the genocide in Palestine. Their set on the West Holts stage drew a massive crowd, reaching capacity nearly an hour before showtime. However, BBC chose not to broadcast their performance citing 'editorial guidelines.' But the trouble had already beset the media organisation as punk rock duo Bob Vylan took to the same stage and called for the death of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces). While some joined the chants, others flagged it as incitement to violence. The organiser of the festival, Emily Eavis, responded to the incident and said she was 'appalled' by the comments made by the singer. This statement from her drew flak from some performers and fans alike. Rock band Amyl and the Sniffers took to their Instagram to highlight that the media, by highlighting the politically charged performances of Kneecap and Bob Vylan made it seem like these were isolated incidents and a couple of 'bad bands' whose sentiments the public at large does not share, which according to them was not the case. As Avon and Somerset Police investigate the video footage to determine if any offences warranting a criminal investigation have been committed at Worthy Farms, it remains to be seen how a music festival with its roots in the 60s counterculture movement responds to ever-evolving semantics of protest in a world where spaces of resistance are facing onslaught from the state.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Kate Nash's foul-mouthed swipe at Rod Stewart and Denise Welch at Glastonbury
Singer Kate Nash took aim at various celebrities and politicians as she headlined the Left Field stage at Glastonbury on Saturday night Singer Kate Nash has taken an apparent foul-mouthed swipe at JK Rowling - as well as Rod Stewart, Denise Welch, Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage. The Foundations hitmaker, who was headlining the Left Field tent at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday night, appeared to slam Harry Potter author Rowling on stage. She told the audience: "The loudest feminist voice in the UK is currently transphobic and that is something that I take very f****** personally, as a feminist and a feminist with trans friends in my life, trans people that I love and that are very important to me. "Dismantling systems of oppression lies at the very core of feminism, so transphobia is not f****** feminist. And just because you're a f******* millionaire and a f****** bully with an army of trolls on the f****** internet. "I don't give a f*** mate. I don't give a s*** about the hundreds, if not thousands of comments, that I've been receiving from trolls since I penned my essay, released it into a song. It's called Germ." Laying into music bosses next - and Denise Welch, who was at the festival supporting her son Matty Healy's band The 1975 - Kate continued: "The music industry doesn't know what to do with me. They tried to get rid of me, but they didn't. There is a record executive sweating their t*** off with Matt Healy's mum. "They're scared of me. I like that. But I was made of mother f****** Bricks. But they didn't believe me. I even gave them a second warning a few years later when I told them 'Do not underestimate the girl'. Is it my fault they didn't believe me? "I'm not going to give my third warning. It's too late for that. I'm taking my bricks and I'm throwing them through the f****** window.' Launching into her song D***head, she said: "F*** Rod Stewart. This one [Why You Being A D****head For] goes out to Keir Starmer, JK Rowling, Rod Stewart and Nigel f****** Farage.' Last week Rod announced his support for Farage in an interview with the Times. The 37-year-old singer shot to fame in the Noughties with her debut album Made of Bricks, which came out in 2007 and went straight to Number 1 in the music charts. Despite having huge success, the former Brit School alumni later discovered her manager had stolen vast sums of money from her, which left her almost bankrupt. And after parting ways with her record label, she says she was forced to sell her flat and move back in with her parents. Alongside singing, Kate went on to land a part in Netflix series Glow, about female wrestlers in the Eighties, but this was cancelled part way through filming the fourth season. Kate has still been making music, but in November last year revealed she had joined adults only site OnlyFans as she 'needed the money'. She made the announcement on her Instagram stories with a cheeky pic of her bum. Though she has been releasing new music recently, the musician shared she had joined the racy app as 'touring makes losses'. Giving fans a 20 percent discount for the first few subscribers as she posted a link to her new page where monthly subscriptions cost £7.91, Kate said: "Butts Tour Buses."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who are Bob Vylan? The punk duo behind Glastonbury's controversial pro-Palestine chants
Glastonbury is no stranger to political statements, and this year a punk duo grabbed headlines after leading pro-Palestine chants on stage. Here's what you need to know about the breakthrough act shaking up the Left Field stage this weekend. Who are Bob Vylan? Bob Vylan (pronounced villain) are known for their unconventional blend of punk and hip-hop. Formed in London in 2017, the pair have built a cult following with their fiercely political lyrics and incendiary live performances. To protect their identities in what they describe as a surveillance state, they go by Bobby and Bobbie. Their songs contain scathing indictments of the British establishment, racism and inequality, blending punk, grime and hardcore into a sound all their own. They quickly broke through the industry's glass ceiling, winning Best Album at the 2022 Kerrang! Awards and landing in the UK Top 20 — an impressive feat for such a divisive sound. 'The band has gotten itself to a point where you can't really ignore us,' the vocalist told DIY magazine. What happened at Glastonbury? The duo performed on Saturday afternoon on the Left Field stage, a venue associated with radical politics. During their set, Bobby Vylan launched into a powerful polemic against political leaders for 'complicity in genocide', leading a chant of 'Free Palestine' and 'Death to the IDF.' The moment quickly spread across social media, with pro-Israel voices branding the duo as 'anti-Semitic.' As a proud Zionist, I wouldn't feel welcome at Glastonbury this year. This is the state of Britain's biggest music festival. A platform for extremists — Bella Wallersteiner 🇺🇦 (@BellaWallerstei) June 27, 2025 Others believe that the performance is making 'the right people' uncomfortable, responding: 'You wouldn't be welcome, and you, as a Zionist, are in fact the extremist. ' This comes following the legal trouble facing Irish rave-rap group Kneecap, who face terrorism charges after their controversial anti-Israel comments at Coachella. The controversy surrounding Kneecap led the BBC to decide not to air their performance, instead opting for Bob Vylan, which turned out to be equally inflammatory. Following the performance, news broke that police are assessing videos of both Kneecap and Bob Vylan. Some pundits have branded the reaction as 'utter hysteria' and serving as pure distraction from the suffering taking place in Gaza. This is utter hysteria. To state the obvious: Almost 60,000 people are recorded to have been killed by Israel in Gaza (the true number will be many times higher) and 17,000 of them are children. But Kneecap, Bob Vylan, hurty words. It would be funny if it wasn't so shameful. — Barry Malone (@malonebarry) June 28, 2025 What else do they stand for? Bob Vylan's entire identity is rooted in protest. Their lyrics cover all manner of topics, from police brutality and the legacy of colonialism to gentrification and mental health challenges. In their song Britain Makes Me Violent, Bobby insists there's 'nothing great' about Great Britain. On Reign, the vocalist advocates for repatriation: 'Got a message for the thieves in the palace, we want the jewels back.' On GYAG, the singer takes a shock approach to the London housing crisis, saying 'Landlord just raised your rent / Mate, get yourself a gun', stemming from his own experience with a newborn under a cruel landlord. The provocative lyrics, they explain, are simply a reaction to a state that enables systematic mistreatment. He told The Guardian: 'I'm not saying it for the purpose of purely being provocative. It's just what I feel.' Following the provocative Glastonbury show, Bobby Vylan appeared relaxed eating an ice cream, while he said: 'Zionists are crying on socials.' Bob Vylan just posted this on his Instagram😂 — Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) June 28, 2025
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Michael Eavis: People who disagree with Glastonbury's politics can go elsewhere
Glastonbury Festival founder Sir Michael Eavis has said people who do not agree with the politics of the event 'can go somewhere else'. Eavis, 89, and his daughter, organiser Emily Eavis, opened the gates to the festival on Wednesday morning and could be seen counting down and cheering as a brass band played. Advertisement The festival has always had a political element to it with stages such as Left Field and Green Fields' Speakers Forum welcoming politicians, pundits and celebrities to speak on topics that range from feminism to fascism. Organiser Emily Eavis and her father, co-founder Sir Michael Eavis, open the gates on the first day of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm (Yui Mok/PA) Asked if the event still stands for something, Eavis told Glastonbury Free Press, the festival's resident newspaper: 'Oh heaven's above, yes, of course it does. 'And I think the people that come here are into all those things. People that don't agree with the politics of the event can go somewhere else!' Eavis, who has used a wheelchair to get around the festival in recent years, said he still gets 'really excited' for the five-day celebration of performing arts and music, though he can 'no longer run around like I used to'. Advertisement Revellers arrive at the Glastonbury Festival during a rain shower, at Worthy Farm (Yui Mok/PA) He told the paper: 'I still take a lot of pleasure from all of it. I'm enjoying every day. 'And Emily is doing so well. I'm just feeling really safe with the show being in her hands.' Former Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker, who left the BBC One show last month, will be speaking at Silver Hayes's The Information on Saturday for a panel titled 'Standing Up For 'Getting Along' In A World That's Being Pushed Apart'. He told the paper: 'It's basically along the lines of: everything is done to try and divide us, and I think if people can pull together – because I think most of us are decent human beings – then just a bit more kindness in the world would go a long way at the moment.' Advertisement People with flowerpots as heads during the festival on Thursday (Ben Birchall/PA) This year's line-up features a number of acts listed as TBA, as well as a mysterious act called Patchwork, who will take to the Pyramid Stage on Saturday. Among the music stars rumoured to be performing a secret set is New Zealand singer Lorde whose fourth-studio album, Virgin, is set for release on Friday. The pop star, 28, posted a picture of Woodsies stage to her Instagram story on Thursday, fuelling speculation that she could be the act listed as 'TBA' slated to perform on the stage at 11.30am Friday morning. Earlier in the month she told BBC Radio 2 that she is 'pretty keen' to see if she can 'pull some strings' and make an appearance at this year's festival. Advertisement Revellers experienced lashings of rain when they arrived to Pilton on Thursday morning, but Friday should see sunshine, according to the Met Office. Revellers shelter under a tree at the festival (Yui Mok/PA) Spokesman Stephen Dixon told the PA news agency: 'Friday should start relatively sunny, with temperatures reaching into the mid-20s. However, there will be a touch more cloud later in the day and into the evening.' Festivalgoers have been pouring into the festival since it opened on Wednesday, and those who took the 12.35pm train from London Paddington to Somerset on Thursday were treated to an acoustic set from singer Sam Ryder who got out a guitar to sing What's Up? by 4 Non Blondes. Ryder, 36, who placed second during the 2022 Eurovision Song Content when he represented the UK, is playing the Avalon Stage on Sunday at 7.50pm. Advertisement Sam Ryder performs an impromptu gig onboard a train service travelling from Paddington Station to Glastonbury (David Parry Media Assignments/PA) This year's event will see headline performances from British rock/pop band The 1975, veteran singer Neil Young and his band the Chrome Hearts, and US pop star Olivia Rodrigo. One of the more controversial acts performing is Irish rap trio Kneecap, who have been in the headlines recently after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. Before the festival, UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be 'appropriate' for them to perform their slot, taking place on the West Holts Stage at 4pm on Saturday. Rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year. Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, through a crowd of supporters after he appeared charged with a terrorism offence (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Last week, the 27-year-old, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20. On Thursday evening, the rap trio posted a film they executive produced to social media, titled Stop The Genocide, which includes testimonies from a Palestinian activist and plastic surgeon on the war in Gaza. Performing in the coveted Sunday teatime legends slot this year is Sir Rod Stewart, who previously said he will be joined by his former Faces band member Ronnie Wood, as well as some other guests. His performance is to come after the Maggie May singer postponed a string of concerts in the US, due to take place this month, while he recovered from flu. Acrobats and circus performers take part in the opening ceremony in the Pyramid Arena during the Glastonbury Festival (Yui Mok/PA) Among the acts expected to draw large crowds this year is alternative pop star Charli XCX, who will perform songs from her genre-defining sixth studio album Brat. She is performing on Saturday night on the Other Stage, 15 minutes before the West Holts stage is graced by US rapper Doechii, another artist who has exploded in popularity in the last year. Other performers include Irish singer CMAT, Prada singer Raye, US musician Brandi Carlile, Nile Rodgers and Chic, hip-hop star Loyle Carner, US pop star Gracie Abrams, indie outfit Wet Leg, Mercury Prize-winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, US rapper Denzel Curry, and rising star Lola Young. This year, the BBC will provide livestreams of the five main stages – Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies and The Park.
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Michael Eavis: People who disagree with Glastonbury's politics can go elsewhere
Sir Michael, 89, and his daughter, organiser Emily Eavis, opened the gates to the festival on Wednesday morning and could be seen counting down and cheering as a brass band played. The festival has always had a political element to it with stages such as Left Field and Green Fields' Speakers Forum welcoming politicians, pundits and celebrities to speak on topics that range from feminism to fascism. Asked if the event still stands for something, Sir Michael told Glastonbury Free Press, the festival's resident newspaper: 'Oh heaven's above, yes, of course it does. 'And I think the people that come here are into all those things. People that don't agree with the politics of the event can go somewhere else!' Sir Michael, who has used a wheelchair to get around the festival in recent years, said he still gets 'really excited' for the five-day celebration of performing arts and music, though he can 'no longer run around like I used to'. He told the paper: 'I still take a lot of pleasure from all of it. I'm enjoying every day. 'And Emily is doing so well. I'm just feeling really safe with the show being in her hands.' Former Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker, who left the BBC One show last month, will be speaking at Silver Hayes's The Information on Saturday for a panel titled 'Standing Up For 'Getting Along' In A World That's Being Pushed Apart'. He told the paper: 'It's basically along the lines of: everything is done to try and divide us, and I think if people can pull together – because I think most of us are decent human beings – then just a bit more kindness in the world would go a long way at the moment.' This year's line-up features a number of acts listed as TBA, as well as a mysterious act called Patchwork, who will take to the Pyramid Stage on Saturday. Among the music stars rumoured to be performing a secret set is New Zealand singer Lorde whose fourth-studio album, Virgin, is set for release on Friday. The pop star, 28, posted a picture of Woodsies stage to her Instagram story on Thursday, fuelling speculation that she could be the act listed as 'TBA' slated to perform on the stage at 11.30am Friday morning. Earlier in the month she told BBC Radio 2 that she is 'pretty keen' to see if she can 'pull some strings' and make an appearance at this year's festival. Revellers experienced lashings of rain when they arrived to Pilton on Thursday morning, but Friday should see sunshine, according to the Met Office. Spokesman Stephen Dixon told the PA news agency: 'Friday should start relatively sunny, with temperatures reaching into the mid-20s. However, there will be a touch more cloud later in the day and into the evening.' Festivalgoers have been pouring into the festival since it opened on Wednesday, and those who took the 12.35pm train from London Paddington to Somerset on Thursday were treated to an acoustic set from singer Sam Ryder who got out a guitar to sing What's Up? by 4 Non Blondes. Ryder, 36, who placed second during the 2022 Eurovision Song Content when he represented the UK, is playing the Avalon Stage on Sunday at 7.50pm. This year's event will see headline performances from British rock/pop band The 1975, veteran singer Neil Young and his band the Chrome Hearts, and US pop star Olivia Rodrigo. One of the more controversial acts performing is Irish rap trio Kneecap, who have been in the headlines recently after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. Before the festival, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be 'appropriate' for them to perform their slot, taking place on the West Holts Stage at 4pm on Saturday. Rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year. Last week, the 27-year-old, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20. On Thursday evening, the rap trio posted a film they executive produced to social media, titled Stop The Genocide, which includes testimonies from a Palestinian activist and plastic surgeon on the war in Gaza. Performing in the coveted Sunday teatime legends slot this year is Sir Rod Stewart, who previously said he will be joined by his former Faces band member Ronnie Wood, as well as some other guests. His performance is to come after the Maggie May singer postponed a string of concerts in the US, due to take place this month, while he recovered from flu. Among the acts expected to draw large crowds this year is alternative pop star Charli XCX, who will perform songs from her genre-defining sixth studio album Brat. She is performing on Saturday night on the Other Stage, 15 minutes before the West Holts stage is graced by US rapper Doechii, another artist who has exploded in popularity in the last year. Other performers include Irish singer CMAT, Prada singer Raye, US musician Brandi Carlile, Nile Rodgers and Chic, hip-hop star Loyle Carner, US pop star Gracie Abrams, indie outfit Wet Leg, Mercury Prize-winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, US rapper Denzel Curry, and rising star Lola Young. This year, the BBC will provide livestreams of the five main stages – Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies and The Park.
