Pillow Queens become first band to boycott Latitude 2024 over sponsor Barclays ties to Israel
nme.comPillow Queens have become the first band to boycott this year’s edition of Latitude festival over its sponsorship with Barclays and their ties to Israel.The Irish indie rock band – comprised of Pamela Connolly, Sarah Corcoran, Rachel Lyons and Cathy McGuinness – took to their social media to share a statement explaining why they have pulled out of the Suffolk music festival.“Last week it came to our attention that Latitude – a festival we were booked to play in the UK in July – lists its headline partner as Barclays.
A May 2024 report by Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) details Barclays financial ties to companies producing weapons and military technology used in Israel’s attacks on Palestinians,” began their statement.“It reveals that Barclays has increased its financial ties with companies arming Israel,” it continued. “PSC urges people to boycott all Barclays services until the bank ends its complicity in Israel’s attacks on Palestinians.A post shared by Pillow Queens (@pillowqueensband)“As a band we believe that artistic spaces should be able to exist without being funded by morally corrupt investors.
It is for that reason that we have pulled out of Latitude Festival. Saoirse don Phalaistín.”Pillow Queens’ announcement comes shortly after a major boycott of The Great Escape in Brighton earlier this month due to its ties with Barclays as well.
Over 100 acts dropped out of this year’s Great Escape Festival in solidarity with Palestine – constituting approximately a quarter of the full programme.Speaking to NME about their decision to pull out of The Great Escape, Big Scary Monsters founder Kevin Douch said: “Honestly, for us it was an easy decision.
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