Bands who are boycotting Download 2024 come together for Palestine fundraiser gig in Birmingham

Sleaford Mods‘ Glastonbury 2024 performance has won over social media fans, but the band seemed less than impressed at the live crowd.The duo performed on the Woodsies stage at 9pm tonight (June 29). Opening with their 2023 track ‘UK GRIM’, it was a high-energy set, with a setlist that spanned their 17-year career.Their fourth Glastonbury appearance went down well on social media, with one Twitter user calling it “brilliantly mental”, and another saying it was “a joy to behold”.Well well , who’d have thought it , after all these years Sleaford Mods smashing a greatest hits set at Glastonbury.A joy to behold.

Aurora has delivered a powerful, political set at Glastonbury 2024, and used her set to condemn world leaders for not taking enough action.The Norwegian singer-songwriter took to The Park Stage today (June 28), for a career-spanning set by the Big Top. Her set followed on from performances earlier in the day from Lynks, Barry Can’t Swim, Dexys and more, and ahead of sets from King Krule and Fontaines D.C.

Kings Of Leon are seemingly teasing a secret set at Glastonbury 2024 – find out more below.Today (June 28), the band have taken to social media to share a video of their performance at Worthy Park in 2008. In the accompanying caption, they teased that they aren’t too far from the festival grounds: “Had a great time at Glastonbury in 2008.

Saint Clare starring Bella Thorne will open this year’s Taormina Film Festival.

Since her stint on Love Island back in 2022, Tasha Ghouri has been making the most of her fame. From launching her own podcast, Superpowers with Tasha Ghouri, to becoming a global ambassador for DeafKidzUK to almost landing a role in the Barbie move, it seems she’s making the most of her star power.

Ellise Shafer Ian McKellen will not perform in the final three shows of the West End run of “Player Kings” after suffering a fall on Monday. “Player Kings” announced on social media on Thursday that David Semark would take over McKellen’s role for its final performances in London.

George Galloway's party has set out where it stands on key issues ahead of the general election. The Workers Party of Britain leader, who has 151 candidates standing for Parliament, launched his manifesto titled 'Britain Deserves Better' in Manchester today (June 19).

Jerry Seinfeld was seen responding to a pro-Palestine heckler at his latest comedy show on June 17.The comedian was appearing at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, when his show was interrupted by an attendee who was giving a message in defense of Palestine.A video shared by the Australian Jewish Association shows the heckler shouting (via Variety): “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”As the heckler was being removed from the building, the Seinfeld creator used sarcasm to criticise him, saying to the audience: “We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He solved the Middle East!”Seinfeld, whose remarks were met with cheers from the audience, continued: “It’s the Jewish comedians, that’s who we have to get! They’re the ones doing everything.”Jerry Seinfeld demolishes anti-Jewish heckler.

Police have launched an urgent appeal to find a missing woman with dementia who caught a bus and hasn't returned home.

Bambie Thug has dedicated a performance of The Cranberries’ ‘Zombie’ at Download Festival to the people of Palestine.The artist, who memorably represented Ireland at this year’s Eurovision, played the Apex Stage at the Donington festival yesterday (June 14) and took the time to highlight the cause that is close to their heart.After singing the track ‘Trash’ from inside a wheelie bin, Bambie said, “You know what else is trash? Governments that allow genocides to happen. Our voices are more important than ever.”They then played a cover of ‘Zombie’, a song about the innocent victims of political violence, before rounding off the song with a cry of “Free Palestine”.Bambie had previously shared a recorded version of the cover earlier this year, which you can listen to below.The musician spoke to NME in May about playing the main stage of Download Festival this weekend, calling it “mental”.“I can’t wait,” they told NME. “After Eurovision I was like, ‘I’m going to be so bored’.

Enter Shikari have spoken out after Barclays Bank withdrew from sponsoring Download, Latitude and Isle Of Wight festivals following an artist boycott.A number of bands had dropped out of the Donington Park festival in protest at their commercial partnership with Barclays, including Pest Control, Scowl, Speed and Zulu.Pest Control wrote that they “would not take part in an event whose sponsor profits from facilitating a genocide”, while Scowl added they were boycotting due to “Barclays Bank sponsorship of the event and Barclays’ connection to Israel and the genocide Israel is committing in Palestine.”And now, it appears that Barclays have withdrawn their sponsorship of Download, Latitude and Isle of Wight Festivals, with the bank no longer being listed on their official websites.In a response shared with NME, Latitude confirmed the news, saying: “Following discussion with artists, we have agreed with Barclays that they will step back from sponsorship of Latitude Festival.”NME have also contacted Download Festival for comment.Enter Shikari, who are set to play the main stage at Download this weekend, have responded to the news with a lengthy social media post, which read: “There has been mounting pressure for bands to drop out of Download festival due to the involvement of Barclays Bank.”A post shared by enter: shikari (@entershikari)“We have been in talks with Download themselves, expressing our serious objection at Barclays involvement. We have considered all options, and along with other artists have been working tirelessly on this.”“We don’t believe in rushed reactions and always want the best outcome for all involved.

Even with a biting wind whipping down Royton high street, shopkeepers are taking their lunch breaks outside, pensioners are milling about the park and parents with small kids are dodging between the shops on Market Square.

Two disruptions marred the annual Congressional Baseball Game last night in Washington, D.C.

Janet Jackson has announced a second London date with Wyclef Jean on her ‘Together Again’ tour later this year.The music legend is bringing her ‘Together Again’ tour to 10 cities later this year, kicking off in Paris at the Accor Arena on September 25.From there, she’ll continue on to stops in Birmingham, London, Glasgow and Manchester, before heading back to mainland Europe and concluding at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on October 10.The new London date will take place on September 29, the day after the original London show.The singer’s UK and European leg of her ‘Together Again’ tour will mark her first UK performance since Glastonbury 2019.

Latitude 2024 due to the festival’s sponsorship with Barclays and its ties to Israel.They are the two leading names when it comes to the comedians who are boycotting this year’s edition of the event, and follow numerous musical acts who are refusing to perform while it is still sponsored by the bank.Joanne McNally announced her withdrawal from the festival last week, when she shared an update online. She was set to close the comedy tent at Latitude 2024, which will be held at Henham Park in Suffolk between July 25 and 28.“I’m getting messages today about me performing at Latitude when it’s being sponsored by Barclays,” she began on Instagram (via Goss.ie).

Scowl, Speed and Zulu have become the latest bands to pull out of Download 2024 over its partnership with Barclays and the bank’s ties to Israel.The news follows a similar move from Leeds hardcore band Pest Control who announced they would be pulling out earlier today (June 10), saying that they would not “take part in an event whose sponsor profits from facilitating a genocide.”In a statement posted to their social media, Scowl wrote: “We will not be playing Download fest this year due to Barclays Bank sponsorship of the event and Barclays’ connection to Israel and the genocide Israel is committing in Palestine.“Free Palestine!”They directed fans to the Bands Boycott Barclays campaign for more information and thanked Pest Control “for bringing this to our attention”.Meanwhile, Speed wrote on their social media accounts: “SPEED will no longer be playing Download Festival this Friday June 14 due to the recent news of Barclays Banks sponsorship of the event and their involvement in the war in Gaza.”Zulu announced they would be dropping out shortly after. In their statement, they said: “We will not be playing Download Festival as we just got word about Barclays Bank and their sponsorship of the fest.

Pest Control have pulled out of Download 2024 over its sponsorship with Barclays and the bank’s ties to Israel.The band took to their official Instagram to share a statement explaining why they would be boycotting the annual festival in Donnington. “We have made the decision to pull out of our upcoming shows at Download festival this week (Wednesday 12th June and Sunday 16th June),” began their statement.They explained that they are taking part in the boycott against Barclays bank who are sponsoring the music festival.

Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).The campaign has called for the boycott amidst the ongoing developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict, which recently saw Israel carry out an airstrike operation in Rafah. The airstrike was estimated to have killed at least 37 people between May 27-28, according to The Associated Press.They also reported the attack caused several tents to catch fire, killing more residents in Rafah, which is home to thousands of displaced Palestinians from all over the Gaza Strip.Now, music organisations, labels and promoters such as Dark Entries, Techno Queers, Dweller, Noise Not Music, Night Slugs, 8-ball community, Gold Bolus Recordings, NYC Noise, FIST and many more have committed themselves to the boycott.PACBI is an offshoot of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS), which was behind the huge wave of drop-outs from The Great Escape and Latitude Festival this year.

Glastonbury Festival‘s famed secret sets this year, with 28 mystery acts yet to be revealed.After the Worthy Farm festival unveiled its stage times and a slew of new additions to its line-up including Tems, James, Jamie Webster, Soft Play (fka Slaves) Rachel Chinouriri and more, fans quickly spotted that there were gaps where secret sets would be taking place.One particularly significant gap was spotted on the Woodsies Stage at 6pm on Saturday. One act rumoured to fill that slot is Kasabian, who are gearing up to release their new album ‘Happenings’, with one fan pointing out that they had been sharing footage from Glastonbury on their socials in recent months.

Modelling sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid have pledged to donate $1m to support Palestinian relief efforts.