The Stone Roses frontman will be replaced by fellow Manchester outfit James
Ian Brown has announced he will no longer headline the 2021 Neighbourhood Weekender festival.
Neighbourhood Weekender takes place over three days and is based in Warrington, Ian Brown’s hometown.
The festival’s organisers have announced that it has been rescheduled and will now take place on the weekend of September 3rd-5th, 2021.
It was originally set to be held on the last weekend of May.
In a statement, festival bosses wrote: “Following the recent government announcement we are moving Neighbourhood Weekender to Friday 3, Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 September 2021.”
There has also been a change in the festival’s lineup, as Ian Brown has announced he will no longer be headlining the event.
The Stone Roses frontman claimed he didn’t want to be a part of a festival that required proof of having had the Covid-19 vaccine to gain entry.
“My Saturday night headline show at NHBD Weekender Festival will now not happen!” wrote Brown on Twitter.
“I refuse to accept vaccination proof as condition of entry. Refunds are available! X”
My Saturday night headline show at NHBD Weekender Festival will now not happen! I refuse to accept vaccination proof as condition of entry.Refunds are available! X
— Ian Brown (@ianbrown) March 3, 2021
Vaccine passports have been discussed by authorities as a way of allowing entry into clubs, pubs, gigs and sports venues when lockdown is lifted.
Brown, a noted anti-vaxxer, will instead be replaced by fellow Manchester outfit James.
The 58-year-old singer previously courted controversy on Twitter when he referred to coronavirus as the “plandemic” in a series of bizarre rants.
After originally tweeting “NO LOCKDOWN NO TESTS NO TRACKS NO MASKS NO VAX”, Brown took aim at Bill Gates, the World Health Organisation and members of parliament in similar outbursts.
He later turned his attentions towards the media.
“So I’m a Conspiracy Theorist HA!” wrote Brown, “a term invented by the lame stream media to discredit those who can smell and see through the government/media lies and propaganda”.
News of Brown’s move away from Neighbourhood Weekender was parodied by satirical site News Thump, who tweeted “BREAKING! Ian Brown to host his own plague-friendly festival”.
BREAKING! Ian Brown to host his own plague-friendly festival
— NewsThump (@newsthump) March 3, 2021
