Music / News
Bristol music venue say they should not have cancelled gig by Jewish band
The team at a Bristol music venue say they should not have cancelled a gig from a band made up of a number of Jewish musicians.
Following what has been described as an “amicable” resolution with the band Oi Va Voi, the senior leadership team at Strange Brew are undertaking compulsory antisemitism training and have made a donation to a charity which works to protect the British Jewish community from antisemitism.
A show in May by Oi Va Voi was abruptly pulled just hours before the band were due to go on stage at the venue on Fairfax Street.
In a statement, Oi Va Voi said they welcome Strange Brew’s acceptance that that they treated the band differently due to their Jewish heritage when they cancelled their gig.
The cancellation followed complaints from activist groups which Oi Va Voi said were “untrue and misguided”, including claims about their music and the album artwork of guest performer Zohara, who grew up in Israel.
“The only reason we received a level of scrutiny that would lead to such false accusations is because of our heritage and the nationality of one of our performers,” said the band’s statement.
“Oi Va Voi is a modern folk Klezmer band from London performing internationally for over 20 years.
“We are British Jews and non-Jews making socially-conscious, humanitarian music that aims to bring people together.
“We have played worldwide, including in Christian, Jewish and Muslim majority countries, without problem.
“The intimidation of the activist groups who wanted Strange Brew to cancel our gig would never be tolerated against any other minority, either in the music industry or elsewhere.
“Anti-Jewish racism is racism, and racism is injustice, wherever it comes from.”
Strange Brew is located in a former car showroom – photo: Leigh Dennis
Oi Va Voi’s statement added: “What has been particularly disappointing is the lack of solidarity from fellow artists and the wider music industry.
“In the wake of what was seen by many as antisemitic rhetoric from certain acts, many artists were quick to sign letters highlighting the importance of free expression.
“Yet the silence around cancellations of Oi Va Voi and other Jewish performers – British and Israeli – has been deafening.
“The readiness of venues, promoters and festivals to cave in to demands that exclude Jewish artists, and the lack of attention from the music press when this does happen, has contributed to an environment which has allowed anti-Jewish racism in Britain to persist largely unchallenged.
“This episode has had an immense personal and emotional impact on us.
“It has also led to financial loss, reputational damage and a barrage of hate, the like of which we had never experienced before.
“We welcome Strange Brew’s statement along with its commitment to undertake antisemitism training with the Antisemitism Policy Trust and a donation to the Community Security Trust, a charity which works to protect British Jews from antisemitism.
“We hope to be able to perform in Bristol soon.”
Strange Brew’s statement published in full on the front page of their website says: “On 21 May 2025, British Jewish band Oi Va Voi was scheduled to perform at our venue along with their guest performer, Zohara.
“We made a last-minute decision to cancel this performance following complaints about the band from activist groups, including about Zohara’s solo album artwork.
“We have reflected on this decision and have realised that we made a mistake in doing so.
“We recognise that Oi Va Voi was likely only subjected to this level of scrutiny, and Zohara’s album artwork interpreted negatively, because they are a Jewish band performing with an Israeli singer.
“Oi Va Voi are musicians, not activists. They have no political affiliations and, as far as we are aware, have never made any political statements, be it in their music or otherwise.
“We are an inclusive venue, and it was not in line with our values to exclude Oi Va Voi and Zohara from performing on the basis of conjecture by another group about their views.
“Even if they did hold such views, we recognise that under the Equality Act performers cannot be excluded from our venue based on their nationality or ethnicity, or their philosophical or religious opinions and beliefs which are worthy of respect in a democratic society, even if some people are opposed to those views
“We also want to call out to all music venues that, regardless of the tragic events that have unfolded in the Middle East, we should not hold Jewish artists, wherever they may be from, to a higher standard by demanding they account for the actions of others or let the current conflict effectively exclude Jewish acts from our venues.
“Jewish people have greatly enriched the UK’s music and arts. scenes, helping shape its sounds and stories. Losing this vital source of creativity would be a real loss for the country.
“We have now implemented compulsory antisemitism training for all our senior management via the Antisemitism Policy Trust and have made a donation to the Community Security Trust, which works to protect British Jews from antisemitism.
“We have resolved the situation amicably with Oi Va Voi.”
Robert Lewis, a partner at lawyers Mishcon de Reya, added: “Oi Va Voi are musicians, not activists, who believe they were targeted because they are a Jewish band performing with an Israeli singer.
“The Equality Act is clear: you cannot exclude performers because of a protected characteristic, such as nationality, ethnicity or beliefs worthy of respect in a democratic society.”
Main photo: Oi Va Voi
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