Bob Vylan have rescheduled their headline shows in Manchester and Leeds “due to political pressure” from MPs and Jewish leaders.
The gigs were originally set to be the first two stops on the London punk-rap duo’s 2025 ‘We Won’t Go Quietly’ UK and Ireland tour. They had been scheduled to perform at Leeds’ O2 Academy on November 4, before heading to Manchester Academy the following night (5).
Further dates are scheduled in Glasgow, London, Bristol, Dublin and Birmingham throughout the month and into early December.
Sharing an update on social media today (Thursday October 23), Bob Vylan announced that their planned shows in Manchester and Leeds will now take place on February 5 and 7, respectively.
“Due to political pressure from the likes of Bridget Phillipson and groups in the Northwest of England we have had to reschedule our Leeds and Manchester shows,” the group wrote alongside a revised tour poster.
They confirmed that tickets purchased for the original dates would remain valid for the rescheduled gigs. Bob Vylan added that “all other shows are continuing as planned”, with Bristol and Dublin now sold out. The “last few tickets” are currently on sale for London.
“See you soon. Love ya!” the band concluded. Find any remaining tickets for the upcoming tour here.
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The “political pressure” cited by Bob Vylan refers to various MPs and Jewish leaders recently expressing their concern over the duo’s northern dates.
The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester (JRC) urged Manchester Academy to cancel the punk-rap outfit’s show in a letter supported by 10 MPs. In the document, the JRC said it was “deeply concerned by Manchester Academy’s decision to host Bob Vylan” and that their “statements and actions do not provoke debate but carry a real danger”.
Adding that there’s a “vital distinction between legitimate criticism of the Israeli government and speech that veers into antisemitism”, the JRC called on the venue to “cancel the performance and commit to clear policies to ensure that it will not legitimise prejudice under the guise of freedom of speech”.
The JRC first sent a letter weeks prior, and had been set to publish its second statement on October 3, but delayed it following the Manchester synagogue attack the previous day.
Bridget Phillipson, who Bob Vylan called out in their new statement, is the UK Education Secretary and Minister For Women And Equalities. Similarly, she explained that she had been “deeply troubled” by Bob Vylan’s previous comments (via ITV News).
The backlash follows Bob Vylan’s set at Glastonbury 2025 in June, which was broadcast live on the BBC and saw them lead the crowd in chants of “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]” and “free, free Palestine”.
Phillipson claimed that the duo’s on stage remarks could cause “fear and intimidation”. Bob Vylan said in a previous statement that they were not calling for “the death of Jews or Arabs or any other race or group” at Glastonbury.
Following the festival set, Avon and Somerset Police announced that they had launched a criminal investigation, while Bob Vylan also had their US tour visas revoked ahead of planned shows in October.
In July, it was reported that police were still investigating Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set. However, it was confirmed at the time that police had dropped their inquiry into Kneecap’s performance at the festival.
Last month saw Bob Vylan hit out at BBC director-general Tim Davie, after he called the corporation’s decision to broadcast their Glasto set live “a very significant mistake”. They called him a “spineless puppet” and once again denied any wrongdoing.
The group have spoken out to defend their Glastonbury performance numerous times now. They’ve claimed it was vital to “teach our children to speak up for the change they want”, and reiterated that they were wanting the “dismantling of a violent military machine”.
Earlier this week, frontman Bobby Vylan said he was “not regretful” of his remarks at Glasto, adding: “I’d do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays. I’m not regretful of it at all.”
The duo recently released their first new single since the controversy, ‘Sick Sad World’, where they called out Prime Minister Keir Starmer and “the BBC’s lies“.
Bob Vylan’s 2025/26 ‘We Won’t Go Quietly’ UK and Ireland tour dates are:
NOVEMBER 2025
06 – O2 Academy, Glasgow
11 – O2 Kentish Town Forum, London
20 – The Prospect Building, Bristol
26 – Vicar Street, Dublin
DECEMBER 2025
04 – O2 Institute, Birmingham
FEBRUARY 2026
05 – Academy, Manchester (rescheduled date)
07 – O2 Academy, Leeds (rescheduled date)
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