GLASTONBURY crowds chanted “Death to the IDF” and “Free Palestine” while led by punk duo Bob Vylan at the festival.
The English group, based in London, were streamed live by the BBC as they led the chant.
Bob Vylan performing on the West Holts stage during the Glastonbury Festival[/caption]
Bob Vylan on the barrier Glastonbury Festival[/caption]
They performed directly before controversial group Kneecap.
Video posted on X heard the crowds chant along with Bobby Vylan, the singer and guitarist, and Bobbie Vylan, the drummer.
The pair use stage names to maintain their privacy.
The footage first hears the band members and crowds chant “Free free” before Bobby says: “Have you heard this one though?
“Death, death, to the IDF.”
The crowds then parroted the chant back at him.
It comes after the Irish language rap trio Kneecap had a string of recent incidents including one of its members being charged with a terror offence.
Kneecap also shared an image of a “terror group” T-shirt before leading a Glastonbury crowd in another “free Palestine” chant.
Balaclava-clad rapper JJ O Dochartaigh was seen in an X post wearing the top, which refers to the anti-Israel campaign group Palestine Action, amid British government plans to make it illegal to join the organisation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has the power to proscribe any such group under the Terrorism Act of 2000 if she believes it is “concerned in terrorism”.
Festival organisers announced just prior to the band’s set at 4pm there was “no access” to West Holts – the stage where Kneecap performed – following warnings it may have to lock down part of the site due to surge fears.
It comes after the BBC confirmed it would not be broadcasting the Irish trio’s performance live following Sir Keir Starmer saying they should be banned from appearing altogether.
However, the set was streamed elsewhere on social media.
Kneecap frontman Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged under the Terrorism Act last month after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah while saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” during a gig in Kentish Town, north London, in November.
A BBC spokesperson said today: “As the broadcast partner, the BBC is bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
“Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines.
“We don’t always live stream every act from the main stages and look to make an on-demand version of Kneecap’s performance available on our digital platforms, alongside more than 90 other sets.”
The band themselves addressed a post on X to “a chairde Gael” – which means “Gaelic friends” – in which they said they’d been contacted by the “propaganda wing of the regime”.
The post added: “They WILL put our set from Glastonbury today on the I-player later this evening for your viewing pleasure.
“The crowd expected today is far greater than West Holts capacity so you’ll need to be very early to catch us father….VERY EARLY”.
A festival statement released earlier today warned: “Kneecap will draw a large audience for their 4pm West Holts show.
“If you’re not planning to see them, please plan alternative routes around that area.
“If you do plan to attend, listen to stewards, and please have some other entertainment options in mind in case the field reaches capacity and we need to close it as part of our crowd planning measures.”
Earlier this month Og O hAnnaidh – who also performs under the stage name Mo Chara – and bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and O Dochartaigh – were mobbed by hundreds of fans outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
He was released on unconditional bail – and is due at the same court on August 20 for the next hearing.
