Last Dinner Party Boycott at Victorious Festival

The Last Dinner Party pulls out of Victorious Festival in solidarity with the Mary Wallopers after the band's onstage support for Palestine led to a sound cut.

Last Dinner Party Boycotts Victorious Festival Over Censorship

The Last Dinner Party announced they would not perform at Victorious Festival in Portsmouth on Aug 23, joining the Mary Wallopers in protest of an onstage incident. The Mary Wallopers unfurled a Palestinian flag and called for Free Palestine, after which a festival crew member interrupted the show and the sound was cut. The band later posted video of the moment and argued that the festival silenced them for a political message.

Festival organizers said the decision was linked to a chant with a discriminatory context, while the Mary Wallopers disputed the claim. The incident adds to a broader pattern of political expression at music festivals, highlighting how venues balance policy with artistic freedom and audience expectations.

This clash shows how politics and culture collide on stage. When policy is unclear, a single moment can become a fight over censorship, rights, and responsibilities for artists and organizers alike.

The festival faces reputational risk and a potential shift in how acts plan statements on tour. For artists, the episode tests whether the platform remains a space for urgent causes or is tamed into apolitical entertainment.

Highlights

As festivals navigate politics in public spaces, the balance between expression and order will keep audiences watching closely.