Strange Brew, a music venue based in Bristol, admitted it was a “mistake” to listen to “activist groups” and cancel a performance by the Jewish folk klezmer band Oi Va Voi.
The band was originally set to perform in May, though Strange Brew cancelled the booking. Now, the venue said it recognizes the complaints it received were only "because they are a Jewish band performing with an Israeli singer."
Oi Va Voi said in a statement that the "intimidation of the activist groups who wanted Strange Brew to cancel our gig would never be tolerated against any other minority", adding that "this episode has had an immense personal and emotional impact on us."
Professional consequences on the cancelation of Oi Va Voi
"It has also led to financial loss, reputational damage, and a barrage of hate, the like of which we had never experienced before," the band added.
The complaints about the music group were guided by and led to “untrue and misguided claims about us, our music,” and “guest performer Zohara, the group shared.
The 330-capacity venue admitted, "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."
Strange Brew added that 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."