The Great Escape Festival Faces Mass Exodus As Artists Demand Barclays Partnership Termination

Artists, industry leaders, publications and independent labels have signed an open letter in solidarity, insisting that The Great Escape drops Barclays as a partner.

In a seismic upheaval within the music industry, a multitude of artists have withdrawn from this year’s Great Escape festival in Brighton and are spearheading a campaign urging the event's organisers to sever ties with Barclays Bank. More than 300 musicians and music industry professionals have united in signing an open letter directed at The Great Escape, vehemently urging the festival to drop Barclays as a partner. The move comes as a direct response to allegations that Barclays is financially connected to arms companies implicated in supplying weapons to Israel, which have been used in military assaults on Palestinians.

The letter, which underscores the severity of the situation, draws attention to the staggering loss of life in the Gaza Strip, with over 30,000 Palestinians reportedly killed in the past five months alone. Furthermore, it highlights the harrowing consequences of these military operations, including the tragic loss of innocent lives, the destruction of families, and the devastating toll on children, many of whom are left severely injured.

The artists assert that a financial institution implicated in such grave human rights abuses has no place in an event like The Great Escape, which has long been celebrated as a bastion of independent music and artistic expression. They refuse to allow the festival to serve as a platform for normalising acts of violence and oppression.

The list of artists and labels withdrawing from the festival is extensive, with notable names such as Alcopop! Records, Big Scary Monsters, Orchards, The Menstrual Cramps, and many more joining the boycott. In solidarity with the cause, additional artists and industry figures have lent their support to the campaign, further amplifying the call for action.

As pressure mounts on The Great Escape to heed the demands of the artists, the festival finds itself at a critical juncture, grappling with the moral and ethical implications of its partnership with Barclays. The decision to either uphold or sever this association will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of the event.

Apart from The Great Escape, the bank serves as a prominent sponsor for events such as the Isle of Wight Festival and Latitude. Additionally, it maintains connections with Download Festival, Camp Bestival, Lytham Festival, and productions hosted at The Piece Hall in Halifax.

Still Listening stands in solidarity with all of the artists taking the financially difficult decision to stand in alignment with their values and with our collective responsibility against meaningless suffering, especially when it is propagated by leading global powers. We await an update from The Great Escape expectantly. You can sign the petition here.

Access the Palestine Solidarity Campaign here.