Glastonbury 2025: Why Was It the Most Politically Charged Festival Ever?

The recent edition of Glastonbury, which took place on June 28 and 29, was distinctly political. Held every summer in Somerset, South England, Glastonbury has a knack for bringing together top talents from the current music scene. This year, international news cast a long shadow over the event, with artists vocally expressing political views.

Kneecap, an Irish group that has been surrounded by controversy for months, performed on the West Holts stage despite facing accusations against member Liam O’Hanna. In May, O’Hanna was charged with a terrorist offense after waving a Hezbollah flag during a concert in London in November 2024. At Glastonbury, the band faced a fervent front row, boldly shouting: “Fuck [British Prime Minister] Keir Starmer!” and “Free, free Palestine!”.

The BBC, however, did not appreciate this and chose not to broadcast Kneecap’s performance live. It was only available on iPlayer, a service limited to the UK.

Bob Vylan Calls for the End of the Israeli Military

Shortly thereafter, the British rap-punk duo Bob Vylan stirred the pot. Performing on the same stage as Kneecap, they began their set by voicing support for their Irish peers and declared to the audience: “We are violent punks because sometimes, violence is the only language some people understand, unfortunately.”

Throughout their performance—broadcast live by the BBC—Bob Vylan echoed various slogans, starting with “Free Palestine!” They continued, “Have you heard this one? ‘Death, death to the IDF!'” referring directly to the Israeli military, while messages such as “Free Palestine. The United Nations has called this phenomenon genocide. The BBC calls it a ‘conflict’” appeared on stage.

The BBC quickly responded in a statement, condemning the remarks as “deeply offensive” and announced that Bob Vylan’s concert would not be available for replay. Similarly, the Glastonbury team expressed their disapproval on Instagram: “Their songs have greatly overstepped the mark and we urgently remind everyone involved in the production of the festival that antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence have no place at Glastonbury.”

Festival Cancellations and Visa Revocations

Following the controversy, the U.S. government canceled the visas of the two musicians from Bob Vylan, who had planned a tour in America this fall. Consequently, their representation by United Talent Agency (UTA) also ended.

Moreover, the British duo was removed from the lineup of two festivals. First, the Radar Festival, scheduled for July 5 and 6, provided no explanation for their decision. Additionally, the French Kave Fest, set to occur from July 4 to 6 in Gisors, announced the removal of Bob Vylan from their lineup due to opposition from local authorities.

Despite these setbacks, Bob Vylan remained steadfast in their beliefs, clarifying on Instagram: “We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs, or any other race or group. We advocate for the dismantling of a violent military machine.”

Amyl & The Sniffers Defends Bob Vylan and Kneecap

The backlash prompted Amyl & The Sniffers to defend both Bob Vylan and Kneecap on social media. “The British media are in a frenzy over Bob Vylan and Kneecap, but throughout the weekend at Glastonbury, from pop to rock, rap to punk, and DJs, many artists spoke out and there were plenty of flags in every streamed set,” the Australian group stated in an Instagram story.

They continued: “There’s an attempt to portray Bob and Kneecap as isolated incidents, whereas in fact, the status quo has dramatically shifted and people are desperately waiting for our governments to listen.” They concluded with a poignant remark: “If you don’t want politics in music, don’t blame the musicians, blame the politicians and journalists, and the overall political landscape for not doing their job, and there will be more and more until it stops.”

Amyl & The Sniffers also performed a politically charged show at Glastonbury, where the lead singer voiced support for the Palestinian people, linking it to thoughts about indigenous people in Australia and the impact of colonization, all to the applause of the audience.