Ian Brown has announced he will no longer be headlining at Neighbourhood Weekender this year. This news comes after the announcement that the Warrington three-day event would take place at Victoria Park on the weekend of September 3-5, 2021, following the announcement from Boris Johnson that the world will be officially opening up on the 21st of June 2021. In a statement, the festival organisers said; “Following the recent government announcement we are moving Neighbourhood Weekender to Friday 3, Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 September 2021.”
Ian Brown took to Twitter to announce he will no longer be headlining the Saturday night of the festival as he doesn’t agree with making being vaccinated a condition of entry to the event. He wrote; “My Saturday night headline show at NHBD Weekender Festival will now not happen! I refuse to accept vaccination proof as condition of entry. Refunds are available!”
My Saturday night headline show at NHBD Weekender Festival will now not happen! I refuse to accept vaccination proof as condition of entry.Refunds are available! X
— Ian Brown (@ianbrown) March 3, 2021
This isn’t the first time the ex-Stone Roses frontman has spoken out against this solution to hosting live events during the pandemic. Last month, Ian tweeted saying he would “NEVER sing to a crowd who must be vaccinated as a condition of attendance.NEVER EVER!”
In a statement on their social media, Neighbourhood Weekender said; “Like all festivals this summer, will comply with the conditions outlined by the Government through the Local Authority. No decisions will be taken by Government until 21st June at the earliest. We are working with other festival organisers and look forward to a safe return to open-air events this summer.”
Ian has been replaced by James. Other acts on the line-up include Friday headliner Gerry Cinnamon, Sunday headliners Catfish And The Bottlemen, plus Sam Fender, Circa Waves, Shed Seven, The Wombats, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, Pale Waves, Miles Kane, Easy Life and more.
Wireless, Latitude, Brighton’s Great Escape Festival and Standon Calling have all announced they will also be going ahead this year. All tickets previously purchased for the Neighbourhood Weekender festival will still be valid for the new dates. Refunds are also available for people who can no longer attend. You can also still purchase tickets at the festival’s official website.
