LONDON — Controversy has overshadowed music this year at the famed Glastonbury Festival. While stars such as Olivia Rodrigo, Rod Stewart, and Neil Young hit the stage, it was rap-punk duo Bob Vylan that drew the most attention, sparking heated reactions from politicians and launching a police inquiry after a chant inciting violence against the Israeli military was led by the band during their performance.
Glastonbury has long been a confluence of political and cultural divides since its inception. This year’s uproar is not an isolated incident, as the festival has hosted conflicts of ideology and expression for decades. Established in 1970 by Michael Eavis, who operates it alongside his daughter Emily, Glastonbury started as a small counterculture gathering on Worthy Farm, about 120 miles southwest of London. Tickets back then were priced at a single pound, significantly lower than today’s approximately 400 pounds. Despite becoming more commercial, the festival still embraces its roots by prioritizing diversity in performances and maintaining a focus on environmental and progressive causes.
The expansive event drew roughly 200,000 attendees this year, who had the opportunity to immerse themselves in an eclectic mix of nearly 4,000 performers spread over 120 stages, while also engaging in film viewings and live discussions on various topics.
Glastonbury’s ethos has always been inherently political, a tradition that traces back to its origins marked by hippie idealism. The festival’s profits in the 1980s supported the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, a stance against American nuclear weapons presence in the U.K., and it still aids charities like Oxfam and Greenpeace. By the late ’80s, the grounds welcomed New Age travelers from Britain’s unofficial rave movements. After 1990 saw clashes and arrests, the festival adopted a more stringent security approach, a move lamented by some as a departure from its alternative edge.
The festival has often been a stage for political dissent. During the 2016 festival, emotions surrounding the Brexit vote pervaded the air, with performers addressing the discontent, as seen in Adele’s plea for unity. Musicians continually use the platform to express political grievances, illustrated when rapper Stormzy criticized then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2019, and Irish rappers Kneecap did the same to Prime Minister Keir Starmer this year. Conversely, in 2017, Jeremy Corbyn, then the Labour Party leader, was warmly received post-election.
Currently, global conflict and its repercussions resonate deeply at Glastonbury, namely the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Prior to the event, heated debates were sparked surrounding the performance of Irish-language hip-hop group Kneecap, perceived by some politicians as veering towards violent endorsements in their pro-Palestinian statements. Member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, facing charges for supporting a proscribed organization, denies wrongdoing. Critics argue that their stance against Kneecap stems from an aim to suppress their Palestinian advocacy.
While Kneecap’s set was charged with political commentary, it was Bob Vylan’s set that truly ignited controversy for incitements against the Israeli Defense Forces. The local Avon and Somerset Police are investigating whether the duo committed any prosecutable offenses, reviewing footage for evidence. Michael and Emily Eavis condemned the act, asserting there is no place at Glastonbury for hate speech or calls to violence.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is also under scrutiny for streaming Bob Vylan’s performance, with the network acknowledging it should have ceased transmission during the controversial segment, subsequently removing it from their platform. Nevertheless, government officials are demanding details on any assessments the broadcaster conducted on Bob Vylan prior to airing their set. Experts speculate that the BBC is at a crossroads, caught between commercial pressures and political expectations, acutely illustrated by extensive coverage from influential right-wing media pushing political figures to respond.