This past week has seen a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform the band Kneecap.

In Westminster and the British media, senior political figures have been openly engaged in a campaign to remove Kneecap from the public eye, with veiled threats being made over their scheduled performances at gigs, outdoor events and music festivals, including Glastonbury.

Chillingly, it is also clear to us that influential figures and personalities within the wider music industry are attempting to influence this campaign of intimidation.

As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom.

In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people.

The question of agreeing with Kneecap’s political views is irrelevant: it is in the key interests of every artist that all creative expression be protected in a society that values culture, and that this interference campaign is condemned and ridiculed.

Furthermore, it is also the duty of key leadership figures in the music industry to actively defend artistic freedom of expression — rather than seek to silence views which oppose their own.

Signed:

A Place to Bury Strangers, Áine Tyrrell, Alabama 3, Alastair White, Alien Chicks, Amod, Andy Blade, Annie Mac, Antony Szmierek, Apostle, Ash Red, Baxter Dury, Benefits, Beoga, Bicep, Big Special, Biig Piig, Blindboy Boatclub, Bob Vylan, Body Horror, Brian Eno, Brigadé Junk, Brigid Mae Power, Brògeal, Bryan Ginge Duncan, Carsick, Carsie Blanton, Catalyst, Chris Sullivan, Christy Moore, Cian Finn, Ciana O’Muireadhaigh, Clare Sands, Clémentine March, Cmat, Cliffords, Colourspace Engineering, Count Jaakola, Damien Dempsey, Damon Minchella, David Holmes, Delivery, Dexys, Doves, Elena López, Elin Grace, English Teacher, Enter Shikari, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Exotic Gardens, Eyes Of Others, Femcee Moo, Fiendz Y.T., Flowered Up, Fontaines D.C., For Those I Love, Fragile Animals, Freespirits, Gaika, Gemma Dunleavy, Ghost Assembly, Gil De Ray, Gurriers, H Y Y K E N, Hacienda-D, Haru Nemuri, Henry Atherton, Hermitage Green, Howie B, Ian Prowse, Idles, Index for Working Musik, Iona Zajac, James Keegan, James Michael Rodgers, Jelani Blackman, Jesse Ahern, Jimi Cullen, John Francis Flynn, Joshua Idehen, Julia’s Bureau, Junior Brother, Katy J Pearson, Kill, The Icon!, Kirk Strachan, Kojaque, Lankum, Larabel, Lavelle, Le Boom, Leafcuts, Leathshúil, Leftfield, Leonard Barry, Lisa Moorish, Lisa O’Neill, Lost Horizons, Lovefingers, Lowkey, Lysistrata, Marc Todd, Mark Moore, Martin Leahy, Martyn Ware, Maruja, Massive Attack, Mat Ward, Matt Bradley-O’Reilly, Mindsweep, Mogwai, Moxie, Mr Scruff, Mystery Jets, Nadine Shah, Nealo, Negative Pigs, New Bomb Turks, Nick Shane, Nonconnah, Orbital, Outerglobe, Pablo Doherty, Paddy Mulcahy, Pam Hogg, Panic Shack, Paul Weller, Peaking Lights, Peter Perrett, Polevaulter, Poor Creature, Precious Mckenzie, Primal Scream, Prinzhorn Dance School, Proper Monday Number, Psychoscally, Pulp, Ren, Reverend And The Makers, Ringlets, Ríoghnach Connolly, Robert., Roisin El Cherif, Ross Orton, Roy Molloy, Rozi Plain, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Samad Savage San Vito, Sassy Wylie, Scustin, Shame, Simon Raymonde, Sleaford Mods, Soft Play, Sorry Cheryl, Sprints, Spyres, Stefan Murphy, Stick in the Wheel, Stone Anthem, Sunset Theory, Super Furry Animals, Super Jim Z, Suzi Horn, Sweets, Tandem Felix, Templeton Pek, The Banter Thiefs, The Brothers Gillespie, The Clockworks, The Golden Dregs, The Horrors, The Karavats, The Kick, The Landings, The Mary Wallopers, The Murder Capital, The Pogues, The Riptide Movement, The Scratch, The Spitfires, The Velvet Lovers, Thin Lizzy, Thurston Moore, Toddla T, Tokyo Taboo, Tom Morello, Trad Rave, Upturns, Usnaboy, Vedana, Vera Ellen, Warmduscher, Wet Season, Whipping Boy, Worn Out, Yard Act.