Roskilde Festival: Fontaines DC bring out pro-Palestine activist group for powerful statement
Indie rock outfit Fontaines DC conducted a powerful pro-Palestine statement during their visit to the Roskilde Festival in Denmark.
During their set, the band welcomed a pro-Palestine activist group to the stage in order to conduct chants in both English and Arabic as part of a powerful message to festivalgoers. The activist group also commended Bob Vylan for their recent support during their highly controversial showing at the Glastonbury Festival.
Before conducting the chant of “Free Palestine”, one of the activist group members discussed the various issues that many media outlets have censored from numerous musicians, stating that this exercise was used to “avoid the censorship from the media and talk about Palestine”.
Our man on the ground in Denmark, Reuben Cross, commented: “It was genuinely moving to hear upwards of 30,000 people joining in the powerful chants in solidarity. It felt like the perfect reaction to the issues of Glastonbury—if they try to silence you, come back louder”.
Roskilde is not the first major festival to see significant pro-Palestinian protests. Before the Glastonbury Festival, the Irish hip-hop outfit Kneecap had been subject to requests from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch and members of the music industry asking them to be removed from the bill following their vocal critique of Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
During their set on Worthy Farm, the group called out Rod Stewart for his involvement in Reform UK and attacked Keir Starmer for “arming Israel” as part of a performance that dominated the headlines from the event.
It was one of many protests and messages of solidarity with the people of Palestine during the event. During Bob Vylan’s set, the duo held their own protest by chanting “Death to the IDF”, which has since been condemned by the organisers of Glastonbury Festival, who were “appalled” by the language used by the band.
Following their set, the punk band was reprimanded by various members of the media and government, with Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis saying that their performance had “crossed a line” compared to everyone else at the festival. A criminal investigation is also being conducted regarding both of their sets.
The members of Fontaines DC have given their support to Kneecap in the past for their political statements. Frontman Grian Chatten remarked that the ongoing terror investigation into the band was a “witch hunt”, saying, “I stand by their side, and I’m totally unafraid to do so.” Fontaines DC and Kneecap are set to perform together at Finsbury Park on July 5th.
The band also showed their support for Palestine at the Primavera Sound Festival in June 2025. Alongside the various ‘Free Palestine’ protest banners, they had projected a screen projecting the message “Israel is committing genocide, use your voice”.
See footage of Roskilde Festival below.
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