Every May in Brighton, the UK’s music industry descends on the seaside town for the Great Escape, a "showcase" event that has launched the careers of artists like Stormzy, AlunaGeorge, Fat White Family, and Anna Calvi.

Crowds pack into dozens of venues as fans and A&R spotters seek out acts with the potential to become breakout stars. However, this year's event felt incomplete, with more than a third of the lineup missing.

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Keynote speakers did not appear. Headliners refused to show up. Entire showcases were scrapped as tensions from the war on Gaza reached the south coast of England, as per The Guardian. 

Many acts withdrew due to a pro-Palestinian boycott targeting the event's sponsorship by Barclays Bank, which, according to campaigners, has increased its investments in arms companies that trade with "Israel".

BBB for Palestine 

Bands Boycott Barclays (BBB), the group behind the campaign, accused the bank of "laundering its reputation" by partnering with the music festival, a claim that Barclays denies.

A spokesperson from BBB noted that more bands and artists are recognizing that boycotting is a means to amplify their voices. They stated, "It demonstrates the collective power that artists possess. They can unite in an industry that frequently pits one act against another for lineup spots and gig opportunities."

Bands Boycott Barclays' next target is July's Latitude, one of the UK's largest music festivals, followed by the Isle of Wight festival, both sponsored by Barclaycard. BBB intends to approach the organizers "in good faith" to communicate their concerns regarding Barclays' sponsorship.

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A spokesperson for Barclays acknowledged "the profound human suffering caused by this conflict" but clarified that Barclays "does not make its own investments" in the nine defense companies and acts on the instructions of its clients.

The spokesperson stated, "As a bank, our role is to offer financial services to businesses, including those in the defense sector. Clients in this sector encompass US, UK, or European companies that supply defense products to NATO and other allies, including Ukraine, which are crucial contributors to our security in the UK. Decisions regarding arms embargoes rightly fall within the purview of elected governments."