The Derry punk band Cherym have announced that they pulled out of The Great Escape festival due to its ties with Barclays. The news follows a petition started by over 375 musicians and industry professionals calling for the festival to sever ties with the bank.

Cherym shared a statement on social media explaining their decision: “Barclays/Barclaycard are responsible for investing over £1 bn+ into companies that are arming the IDF,” they say, “and providing weaponry that enables the ongoing atrocities against Palestinians to continue.”

 

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Other bands such as The Menstrual Cramps, Orchards and Other Half have also pulled out of the festival, followed by the labels Alcopop! Records and Big Scary Monsters. In addition, a petition was started by the promoter How To Catch a Pig and The Menstrual Cramps calling on the festival to drop Barclays as a partner. It was signed by artists including Big Sleep, Kneecap, Alfie Templeman and Wunderhorse, amongst others.

This decision comes a month after all programmed Irish artists made the decision to boycott Austin’s SXSW festival due to its connection with the US army and weapon suppliers amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.

To read the petition against The Great Escape Festival and their involvement with Barclays bank, click here.