Activists vow support for pro-Gaza Bob Vylan after removal from upcoming festivals

Bob Dylan has been removed from the Radar Festival, scheduled to take place this weekend in Manchester, and Kave Fest, set to take place in Gisors, France.
3 min read
03 July, 2025
Activists have voiced their support for the duo after they were removed from upcoming festivals [Getty]

Activists and campaigners have voiced their support for the punk-rap duo Bob Vylan after they have reportedly been removed from upcoming festival lineups following their criticism of the Israeli army and explicit support for Palestine.

According to Stereogum, a daily music publication, Bob Dylan has been removed from the Radar Festival scheduled to take place this weekend in Manchester and Kave Fest, set to take place in Gisors, France.

The decision to drop the act comes after Bob Vylan used their set at the UK’s Glastonbury music festival to condemn the Israeli army using the chant "Death, death to the IDF" in reference to the Israeli forces.

The chant, which reverberated across the festival as many took part in denouncing the army that is responsible for the killing of over 61,700 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023, prompted the festival organisers to later release a statement saying that the act had "appalled" them.

The public broadcaster BBC, which carried the performance live, also published its own statement saying the chant was "utterly unacceptable".

Following lobbying by pro-Israel groups, including US-based StopAntisemitism, the US went on to rescind Bob Vylan's visas ahead of a tour in the US set for the autumn, while the booking agency UTA also dropped the duo.

In a statement, organisers of the Gisors festival wrote that Bob Vylan had been dropped by their agent and the set had also been opposed by the Eure department and the city of Gisors, forcing them to cancel the appearance.

"We fully support freedom of expression for ALL artists around the world. Our thoughts are with the victims of war in Palestine and their families. We stand firmly against all acts of war and hatred. Our team is working full steam ahead to prepare the best Kave Fest yet," the statement read.

A spokesperson for Artists for Palestine in the UK told The New Arab that there was mounting evidence of genocide in Gaza, and there had been little effort from pro-Israel supporters in denying it.

"Glastonbury showed the huge extent of support for Palestine among performers and their fans. This isn't just true of the music sector. In theatre, film, art, and literature, it's the same story. The truth of what's happening in Palestine has cut through," the spokesperson said.

The organisation also highlighted that there has been an increased crackdown on any individuals who speak out about Palestine and are immediately silenced or labelled a terrorist or an antisemite.

"Political and media elites try to close down discussion, pull programmes, sack presenters, ban activists. But it's not working. In 2023, artists sympathetic towards Palestine were on the defensive. Now they're speaking out loudly and are joined by others who have never previously committed themselves," the spokesperson continued.

They also noted that since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza and the live streaming of atrocious crimes committed against Palestinians, there has been a significant shift in opinion and the "emergence of an instinctive solidarity".  

Online, however, hundreds of activists have vowed support for Bob Vylan, commending them for their efforts in denouncing the war against the Palestinians.

"In this hellscape we are living in, choosing humanity over greed is never easy, in the beginning. Bob Vylan brought much-needed attention to GENOCIDE," one person wrote on X.

"Bob Vylan, he may have lost some concerts, but He won the hearts of hundreds of millions of people Bob Vylan did not choose money. He chose humanity," another wrote.

This comes as Israel continues its war on Gaza and obstructs aid from reaching most of the population. Leading rights groups, including Amnesty International, have determined the war to be a genocide and have raised alarm over the humanitarian situation in the Strip.