{"id":365512,"date":"2025-08-22T20:32:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T20:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/365512\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T20:32:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T20:32:10","slug":"the-mary-wallopers-set-cut-short-at-victorious-festival-after-calling-for-free-palestine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/365512\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mary Wallopers set cut short at Victorious Festival after calling for “free Palestine”"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Mary Wallopers<\/a> have had their set cut short at Victorious Festival<\/a> after calling for a \u2018Free Palestine\u2019 and displaying the country\u2019s flag.<\/p>\n

The Irish band had barely started their show at the Portsmouth festival on Friday (August 22) when their microphones were cut off. In videos shared online by those in attendance, the crowd can be heard booing the decision and leading chants of \u201clet them play\u201d and \u201cfree, free Palestine\u201d.<\/p>\n

Writing on their Instagram Stories, the band said: \u201cJust got cut off at Victorious Festival for having a Palestinian flag on the stage. We\u2019ve been doing this for 6 years now and this has never happened before. Free Palestine all day every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Victorious Festival has just cut off The Mary Wallopers for showing support to Palestine. So grim. pic.twitter.com\/nV2010AcUY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Leigh Kimmins McManus (@LeighMcManus1) August 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A Victorious Festival spokesperson told NME: \u201cWe spoke to the artist before the performance regarding the festival\u2019s long-standing policy of not allowing flags of any kind at the event, but that we respect their right to express their views during the show.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough a flag was displayed on stage contrary to our policy, and this was raised with the artist\u2019s crew, the show was not ended at this point, and it was the artist\u2019s decision to stop the song. The decision by the event management to cut the sound and end the performance was only taken after the band used a chant which is widely understood to have a discriminatory context.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be clear, we respect the right of artists to use their platform to express their views within the inclusive nature of the event and it was not the band\u2019s call to \u2018Free Palestine\u2019 which resulted in this outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Victorious is one of many festivals to be operated by Superstruct Entertainment, which is owned by the controversial global investment firm KKR, which has been criticised by many artists<\/a> for its alleged stakes in weapons manufacturing companies and Israel corporations operating in the occupied Palestinian territories.<\/p>\n

Kneecap wrote on X: \u201cOur good pals The Mary Wallopers have just been pulled off stage and the PA shut down at @VictoriousFest in Portsmouth for taking out a Palestine flag and saying Free Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeak up against genocide in England and you\u2019re treated like a criminal. Up the Mary Wallopers. Free Palestine! Free the 6 counties!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Our good pals The Mary Wallopers have just been pulled off stage and the PA shut down at @VictoriousFest<\/a> in Portsmouth for taking out a \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8 flag and saying Free Palestine.<\/p>\n

Speak up against genocide in England and you’re treated like a criminal. <\/p>\n

Up the Mary Wallopers \ud83d\udc9a\ud83e\udd0d\ud83e\udde1\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/l9XdBL1jcm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) August 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

See footage from the crowd showing the band being cut off here, along with reactions from those in attendance:<\/p>\n

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Cutting Mary Wallopers for wrongthink is pathetic @VictoriousFest<\/a>. Absolutely shambolic. pic.twitter.com\/eZ3fu8kvdf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Deej (@WrongWingDeej) August 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Shame on the victorious festival for kicking of the Mary wallopers off stage for saying free Palestine \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/cyQ6uwJmt2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ks \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd\u2764\ufe0f (@kristia43208575) August 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Absolutely cowardly decision to cut off the The Mary Wallopers from @VictoriousFest<\/a> for having a Palestine flag \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8<\/p>\n

As the bands next up on the bill, I hope @wunderhorse<\/a> @KaiserChiefs<\/a> and @qotsa<\/a> all take a stand \u2013 they can\u2019t censor everyone \u270a pic.twitter.com\/psgKDwg6LS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Greg Newcombe (@gregnewcombe) August 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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At victorious festival and they\u2019ve just pulled the Mary wallopers off stage cos the shouted \u2018free Palestine\u2019
Fuck victorious festival<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Duffy (@themightysteds) August 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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At Victorious Festival in Portsmouth. Irish band the Mary Wallopers booted off stage for flying a Palestine flag. Which is not illegal. Who took this decision to stop a band expressing legitimate views? Very worrying whatever view you have on the Middle East.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mark English (@EULondonMark) August 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

NME have contacted Victorious Festival\u2019s representatives for comment.<\/p>\n

Several other festivals that are backed by KKR have addressed their concerns about the connection. Tramlines said they would \u201cnever send them a single Euro\u201d<\/a>, while\u00a0Mighty Hoopla stated their \u201cclear opposition to KKR\u2019s unethical investments\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Boiler Room, which was also acquired by Superstruct,\u00a0issued a statement in March stating that KKR \u201ccategorically don\u2019t align with our values\u201d<\/a>\u00a0while reiterating their allegiance to pro-Palestine organisations.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Field Day said in May that they have \u201cnever compromised\u201d on their \u201cambitions and values\u201d<\/a> and have been engaged in \u201ca passionate discussion\u201d with KKR. They said they recognised \u201cthe strength of the feeling of the artists involved and the fans who attend\u201d and said it was \u201csorry\u201d that some artists have pulled out.<\/p>\n

They later clarified<\/a>: \u201cWe are sorry we did not say earlier what we unequivocally say now: We are passionately opposed to KKR\u2019s unethical investments in Israel. We cannot control who owns our parent company but we promise to make our \u2013 and your \u2013 voices, and the ethical values we regard as non-negotiable, heard and understood at all levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

One group of 50 artists, which included\u00a0Massive Attack<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Brian Eno<\/a>, signed\u00a0an open letter urging Field Day to distance itself from KKR<\/a> in May, while another 11 artists announced that they were boycotting the festival in solidarity with Palestine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Victorious Festival is running on the Southsea seafront this weekend, with Kings Of Leon<\/a>,\u00a0Queens Of The Stone Age<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Vampire Weekend<\/a>\u00a0topping the bill.<\/p>\n