Download Festival: Artists pull out over Barclays sponsor links

The Download acts are the latest artists to pull out of an event due to links with Barclays.

Singer CMAT said she pulled out of the Latitude Festival in Suffolk, where Barclays is a headline sponsor, because she “will not allow my precious work, my music… to get into bed with violence”.

At Brighton’s Great Escape Festival in May, more than 100 artists pulled out over the bank’s involvement.

It’s not the first time Scowl has withdrawn in protest, with the band pulling out, external of South by Southwest in Texas because of the festival’s sponsorship deal with the US Army.

Rachel Chinouriri, Kneecap and Lambrini Girls were among acts who also pulled out for the same reason.

Download, the UK’s biggest heavy metal and rock focused festival, is due to take place at Donnington Park from 14 to 16 June.

In a statement, Barclays said it does not make its own investments, but provides financial services to businesses “including those in the defence sector”.

That includes companies “that supply defence products to Nato and other allies including Ukraine”.

They added that “Barclays does not directly invest in these companies” and that “decisions on the implementation of arms embargoes to other nations” should be taken by governments.

BBC Newsbeat has contacted Barclays Bank, Download Festival, Pest Control, Scowl, Speed and Zulu for further comment.