Banksy used Idles’ Glastonbury 2024 program to send a message

At the top of the Glastonbury 2024 line-up are titans Dua Lipa, Coldplay, SZA and Shania Twain. However, yesterday’s show (June 28) was stolen by indie rockers — Idles.

During the band’s performance of ‘Gift Horse’, the band made a bold political statement about the UK’s immigration policy with the help of visual artist Banksy.

If there’s one music festival that lends itself perfectly to crowd-surfing, it’s Glastonbury. The artists therefore decided to push the idea further. In videos from the event, participants are seen guiding Banksy’s latest performance art, an inflatable raft containing figures dressed as migrants, through the sea of ​​people.

Beach balls are often seen at festivals, but Banksy’s artwork should not be seen as a lightweight accessory. The intention behind the work is highlighted by the Idles song, “Danny Nedelko,” which can be heard playing in the background in festival-goer videos.

It’s unclear whether Idles and Banksy have teamed up (highly unlikely) to speak out against Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s highly controversial immigration policies and reports of xenophobia across Europe. But, according to the songs opening verse: “My blood brother is an immigrant / A handsome immigrant / My blood brother’s Freddie Mercury / A Nigerian mother of three / He’s made of bones, he’s made of blood / He’s made of flesh, he’s made of love / He’s made of you, he’s made of me / Unity,” you can definitely bet your bottom dollar Idles approves of the message.