Additional anti-war gig announced for Sunday

The Irish Anti-War Movement today announced that they will hold an additional anti-war gig on Sunday, June 20, at Vicar St. This follows on from yesterday's announcement that the original June 19 event had been moved from the Point to Vicar St.

Although the venue change meant that the Saturday event was fully sold out, organizers agreed to stage another night to meet the continued ticket demand.

Among the artists that have already been confirmed for the Sunday night are Damien Rice, Mundy and The Walls, with more performers to be announced.

The line-up for Saturday's gig remains the same, with all tickets for the Point still valid for Vicar St. Tickets for the Sunday gig are on sale now from the venue box office and the usual outlets nationwide.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin earlier this morning, organizer Richard Boyd-Barrett explained the reasons behind the last minute change of venue and what he saw as a "campaign of sabotage" by a Government body to undermine the anti-war gig.

This follows on from the decision by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to ban radio advertisements for the gig last week. The ads were banned because they allegedly infringed BCI guidelines that commercial advertising does not contain "political content".

Describing the decision as a form of censorship, Barrett made the following statement: "The BCI, which is a government appointed body, has banned ads advertising our gigs – seriously damaging our campaign to promote the event and sell tickets."

"You cannot fill a venue the size of The Point without radio advertising. The BCI know that and we made it clear to them in our correspondence last week that the ban amounted to deliberate sabotage of our event."

According to Barrett, the ban raises serious issues of civil liberties, specifically threatening freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of protest.

His sentiments were also echoed by the other speakers at the press conference, including Ashling Reidy from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, John Gormley TD (Green Party) and Daithí Doolan (Sinn Fein).

Barrett continued: "Bertie Ahern publicly warned against people joining the Anti-Bush protests. This was a disgraceful move in a supposedly democratic society. It is now clear his words were not idle but a statement of intent. Following his comments Dublin City Council adopted a new policy of pulling down posters advertising anti-war events… The Gardai are also harrassing activists distributing leaflets and putting up posters."

Damien Rice, who was also in attendance, expressed his continued commitment to the gig, and emphasized the right to protest against violence.

Meanwhile, Damien Rice celebrates his growing superstar status with the Stateside release of B-Sides.

Due there on July 20 through Warners, the seven-track EP gathers together live versions of 'The Professor', 'Woman Like A Man' and 'Delicate', the original demo of 'Lone Lily', the B-side 'Moody Mooday' and two über-rare versions of 'Volcano'.