British bands and artists are much less likely to perform at European festivals during the first festival season after Brexit. Best For Britain, which is campaigning against the UK’s departure from the European Union, has calculated that there will be 45% fewer British names on festival posters this year than in 2017-2019.
According to Best For Britain, that’s a bad thing. “During their tour, many musicians have experiences that have shaped them and given them the opportunity to move on to mainstream audiences,” said director Naomi Smith. Not only is it more difficult for British artists to travel to Europe, but international musicians “will think very carefully before adding Glasgow or London to their European tour,” Smith said.
Artists and others working in the music industry have long argued that Brexit is making it harder to navigate Europe. This is because of the visas and permits that are currently required. For example, White Lies could not embark on a tour in Paris because it was not possible to arrange the paperwork to transport the instruments on time.
Last year, Elton John signed an open letter to the government calling for visa-free tours with more than a hundred British artists. They succeeded: 19 of the 27 EU member states have signed an agreement that allows musicians from the UK to travel visa-free again.
Source: NU
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
