British indie band Pulp agree to play Adelaide festival after boycott u-turn

The British indie band Pulp will play at the Adelaide-festival" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="9835" data-entity-type="organization">Adelaide Festival in February after initially pulling out of the event in protest at the cancellation of Palestinian writer Randa Abdel-Fattah.The band issued a statement on social media on Thursday night announcing that they would “honour our invitation to perform in Adelaide on 27 February” after the festival organisers performed a u-turn, apologised to Abdel-Fattah for her treatment, and invited her to speak at next year’s event.Abdel-Fattah was barred from the Adelaide writers’ week last week because of “cultural sensitivity” in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, prompting dozens of other speakers to boycott the event.Pulp decided to boycott the related Adelaide-festival" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="9835" data-entity-type="organization">Adelaide Festival but the organisers asked the band to delay making an announcement “while they sought to resolve this crisis for all sides”.The board responsible for the decision to bar Abdel-Fattah, who has been criticised by Jewish groups for controversial comments about Israel, has mostly stood down and been replaced. The whole writers week was scrapped and Abdel-Fattah invited to appear at the 2027 event.A statement released by the band said: “Pulp were appalled to hear of the circumstances in which the Adelaide-festival" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="9835" data-entity-type="organization">Adelaide Festival board had cancelled the scheduled appearance of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, and respect those who immediately spoke out against this decision.“We want to make it absolutely clear that Pulp refuse to condone the silencing of voices. We celebrate difference, and oppose censorship, violence and oppression in all its forms.“Our management and representatives have been in dialogue with the festival organisers since last week, when the situation was first made public. Having informed them that we had decided to withdraw from the festival in support of the boycott, we were asked to delay an announcement while they sought to resolve this crisis for all sides.“It is our understanding that the festival programmers are now acting in good faith. The festival board that made this dreadful decision have been replaced, and a full apology has been accepted by Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, who has been invited to appear next year.“Given this new and welcome development we feel able, in good conscience, to honour our invitation to perform in Adelaide on 27 February. We hope that our free concert will be an opportunity for different communities to come together in peace and harmony.”On his Instagram feed, the band’s lead singer, Jarvis Cocker, said Pulp had initially pulled out because of the “dreadful situation” with Abdel-Fattah.But he was happy that the band was now “prepared to perform at the music festival once more”.“This will be a free concert, open to anyone who respects the freedom of all voices to be heard. It will also be fun.”