“I don’t know if I can afford it” – artists speak out on the future of European touring post-Brexit

Brexit touring row, and what it could mean for their chances of booking emerging UK bands.In failing to negotiate visa-free travel and Europe-wide work permits for musicians and crew, the current problems that surround post-Brexit touring stand to be far-reaching.

Naman Ramachandran The post-Brexit reality of a work visa regime to work in the European Union is now affecting the U.K. film and television production industry.Several EU countries now require U.K.

Brexit ended in the government essentially ignoring the idea and doubling down on the EU being at fault.Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal failed to secure visa-free travel for UK artists and their crew wishing to tour Europe (adding huge costs to future live music tours of the continent and preventing rising and developing artists from being able to afford it), prompting a row to erupt over who was responsible.After over 280,000 people signed a petition calling for visa-free

Radiohead‘s Colin Greenwood has become the latest high-profile name to speak out as the post-Brexit touring debacle continues.Musicians were left out of the Brexit trade deal that came into force on January 1, 2021, which means artists may have to acquire visas for each country they wish to perform in while touring Europe.Critics of the deal have since pointed out that not allowing musicians into the EU with a visa-free work permit could result in a huge rise in costs that could ultimately make

Elton John has called for a “short-term fix” to be implemented as the post-Brexit touring debacle continues.Musicians were left out of the Brexit trade deal that came into action on January 1, 2021, meaning artists may have to acquire visas for each country they wish to perform in in Europe.As critics of the deal have pointed out, musicians not being allowed into the EU with a visa-free work permit – as workers in some other industries have been granted – means big rises in costs that could bar

direct to your inboxCalls have been made to scrap part of the Brexit deal relating to Northern Ireland, as Boris Johnson warned Brussels he will act to prevent trade barriers being put up in the Irish Sea.Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster said the Northern Ireland Protocol risked the country’s “political and economic links” to the UK and called for it to be replaced amid growing tension among Unionists.The agreement on Northern Ireland was seen as a way of resolving the main

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal failed to secure visa-free travel for UK artists and their crew wishing to tour Europe (adding huge costs to future live music tours of the continent and preventing rising and developing artists from being able to afford it), a row erupted over who was responsible.Now, ahead of the matter being debated in Parliament next week, many of the UK companies that help make touring possible look set to move to Europe in order to continue – taking a wealth

“We are so sorry to be unable to find a workable solution.“The frustrating thing is that we are actually closer to Northern Ireland than we are to Glasgow or Edinburgh – people in Northern Ireland are more than our customers, they’re our neighbours.”