Acts including Speed, Scowl and Ithaca voice opposition to Barclaycard sponsorship over financial services provided to defence companies
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Multiple bands have pulled out of Download festival over Barclaycard being used as its official payment partner, in protest against Barclays providing financial services to defence companies supplying Israel.
Download, the UK’s biggest rock, metal and punk festival which takes place from 14 to 16 June, lists Barclaycard as one of its official sponsors alongside Liquid Death, Red Bull and others.
Leeds band Pest Control wrote: “We cannot sacrifice the principles held by this band and by the scene we come from and represent, just for personal gain.”
As a result of their boycott, punk bands Speed, Scowl and Zulu also pulled out of the festival over the Barclays sponsorship, criticising the bank for the financial services it provides.
British metalcore band Ithaca joined the boycott on Tuesday evening. “Once we were made aware of Barclays’ involvement in Download we knew we could no longer participate,” the band said in a statement to the Guardian. “This moment of solidar
Ahead of next weekend’s annual Donington party, Download Festival have revealed this year’s stage times so you can get planning!
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There’s only eight days to go now until Download, and the festival are getting fans excited with the release of next weekend’s set times.
We can now see how long our favourite bands are playing for, and agonise over who will win out in various set clashes (hopefully not too many, though).
All the music will kick off properly on Friday, June 14 from 1pm with The Blue Stones, Hanabie., Storm and Defects opening up the Apex, Opus, Avalanche and Dogtooth stages respectively. Throughout the day you’ll be able to see everyone from The Struts and Scene Queen to The Callous Daoboys and Polyphia, before mighty headliners Queens Of The Stone Age bring the riffs between 9:10pm and 10:50pm on the Apex Stage.
You’ll have to wake up early the next day, though, as Download’s Saturday begins at 11am, with Bambie Thug opening the Apex Stage and Heriot, Mallavora and Celestial Sanctuary getting the party started elsewhere. WARGASM, Bleed From Within, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, GEL, B