Ian Brown of The Stone Roses during his headline show at the Virgin Media stage
(Picture: Samir Hussein/Getty)Covid sceptic Ian Brown has pulled out of a music festival saying he would refuse to play at events which required proof of vaccination before entry.
Brown, who frequently tweets disinformation about the pandemic, took to social media on Wednesday and said: “I refuse to accept vaccination proof as condition of entry.”
The singer was due to headline the Neighbourhood Weekender festival in Warrington this September but he told fans this “will not happen.”
My Saturday night headline show at NHBD Weekender Festival will now not happen! I refuse to accept vaccination proof as condition of entry.Refunds are available! X
— Ian Brown (@ianbrown) March 3, 2021
In a statement provided by its promoter SJM Concerts, the festival said that it would “comply with the conditions outlined by the government through the local authority.”
“No decisions will be taken by government until 21 June at the earliest,” the statement said.
“We are working hard with other festival organisers and look forward to a safe return to open-air events this summer.”
— NBHD Weekender (@nbhdweekender) March 4, 2021
Vaccine passports have been touted as a way to keep large-scale events safe from Covid outbreaks.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi’s has called vaccine passports “discriminatory” but the Government has since hinted that the policy is under consideration.
Cyprus has said it would welcome British tourists who have been vaccinated from May.
Brown has been replaced on the Neighbourhood Weekender line-up by fellow Mancunian indie icons James.
The three-day event will also feature Gerry Cinnamon and Catfish and the Bottlemen.
UK festivals have reported a sales spike since the government announced the roadmap out of lockdown with the announcement triggering a 600 per cent rise in traffic to Ticketmaster website.
