Richard Ashcroft as due to play at the Sheffield Tramlines festival in a headline slot, but has decided to pull out after decrying it has become a government experiment, as the government is collecting data on large events to measure the spread of covid19 and calculate a safe way out of the pandemic. This festival is taking place on the weekend of the 23rd to the 25th of July and will attract its full capacity of 40,000 attendees, the largest event since the British pandemic began in March 2020.
Explaining his decision to fans, Ashcroft wrote on Instagram “Apologies to my fans for any disappointment but the festival was informed over 10 days ago that I wouldn’t be playing once it had become part of a government testing programme. I had informed my agent months ago I wouldn’t be playing concerts with restrictions. The status of the festival was one thing when I signed up for it, but sadly was forced to become something else. It must be an age thing but the words Government Experiment and Festival #naturalrebel #theydontownme”.
Ian Brown, the former frontman of the Stone Roses, has been outspoken in vehemently opposing the vaccination program, even writing in his song ‘Little Seed Big Tree’ that ‘a forced vaccine, like a bad dream / they’ll put a microchip, every woman, child, and man.’ supported Ashcroft’s decision, saying it was “a solid decision and a great statement, Comrade”.
Brown and Ashcroft are far from alone in the music community in being against lockdowns and the vaccine rollout, with other dissenters including Noel Gallagher who derided mask-wearing in September 2020, and claimed that “There’s too many fucking liberties being taken away from us now…The people who are virtue signalling, their lofty wagging their finger at people who are declining it, can eff off. That’s how fascism starts.”
A replacement for Ashcroft’s slot has yet to be announced.
