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Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood was due to play two shows with Israel-born\u00a0musician Dudu Tassa in the UK in June. \u00a0<\/p>\n
However, the two have confirmed that the concerts at Bristol Beacon’s Lantern Hall and London’s Hackney Church will no longer go ahead after the venues decided it was “not safe to proceed”.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Greenwood and Tassa posted a joint statement addressing the cancellations: \u201cThe venues and their blameless staff have received enough credible threats to conclude that it\u2019s not safe to proceed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (Pacbi), a member of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, welcomed the cancellations, claiming the performances would have “whitewashed” the war in Gaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cForcing musicians not to perform and denying people who want to hear them an opportunity to do so is self-evidently a method of censorship and silencing,\u201d continued the statement by Greenwood and Tassa. \u201cIntimidating venues into pulling our shows won\u2019t help achieve the peace and justice everyone in the Middle East deserves. This cancellation will be hailed as a victory by the campaigners behind it, but we see nothing to celebrate and don\u2019t find that anything positive has been achieved.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe art exists above and beyond politics; that art seeks to establish the common identity of musicians across borders in the Middle East should be encouraged, not decried; and that artists should be free to express themselves regardless of their citizenship or their religion \u2013 and certainly regardless of the decisions made by their governments.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The statement also referenced the statement signed by more than 100 artists<\/strong><\/a> regarding Belfast rap trio Kneecap. \u00a0<\/p>\n UK politicians have been\u00a0trying to pressure music festivals to remove Kneecap<\/strong><\/a> from festival line-ups this summer over alleged concert footage<\/strong><\/a> showing them calling for the death of Conservative MPs and appearing to support Hamas and Hezbollah. \u00a0<\/p>\n Quoting the artist\u2019s statement expressing \u201copposition to any political repression of artistic freedom\u201d, Greenwood and Tassa said: \u201cWe have no judgement to pass on Kneecap but note how sad it is that those supporting their freedom of expression are the same ones most determined to restrict ours.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Greenwood has collaborated with Tassa for many years, and released the album \u2018Jarak Qaribak\u2019 with him in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n Their statement also said: “We agree completely with people who ask ‘How can this be more important than what’s happening in Gaza and Israel?’ They’re right – it isn’t. How could it be? What, in anyone’s upcoming cultural life, is?”\u00a0<\/p>\n Greenwood also faced opposition from pro-Palestinian groups last year after performing with Tassa in Tel Aviv amid the war in Gaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n