IRISH folk band The Mary Wallopers have said they were “cut off” during a performance at a UK music festival for displaying a Palestine flag on stage.
The band were performing at Victorious Festival in Portsmouth on Friday, an event which is set to feature Vampire Weekend, The Kaiser Chiefs and Kings of Leon over the weekend.
In an Instagram story following their set, the band said: “Just got cut off at Victorious Festival for having a Palestinian flag on the stage.
“We’ve been doing this for six years now and this has never happened before. Free Palestine all day every day.”
The band followed up with a later post, sharing a screenshot of an article from Far Out magazine captioned: “So the spin begins folks. As expected.”
“Speak up against genocide in England and you’re treated like a criminal. Up the Mary Wallopers.
“Free Palestine! Free the six counties!”
Our good pals The Mary Wallopers have just been pulled off stage and the PA shut down at @VictoriousFest in Portsmouth for taking out a 🇵🇸 flag and saying Free Palestine. Speak up against genocide in England and you're treated like a criminal. Up the Mary Wallopers 💚🤍🧡… pic.twitter.com/l9XdBL1jcm
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) August 22, 2025
Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known by stage name Mo Chara, is currently facing terror charges after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a show in 2024. Judgement has been reserved on the issue until September 26.
A Victorious Festival spokesperson told the Daily Mail: “We spoke to the artist before the performance regarding the festival's long-standing policy of not allowing flags of any kind at the event, but that we respect their right to express their views during the show.
“Although a flag was displayed on stage contrary to our policy, and this was raised with the artist's crew, the show was not ended at this point, and it was the artist's decision to stop the song.
“The decision by the event management to cut the sound and end the performance was only taken after the band used a chant which is widely understood to have a discriminatory context.
“To be clear, we respect the right of artists to use their platform to express their views within the inclusive nature of the event and it was not the band's call to ‘Free Palestine’ which resulted in this outcome.”
