Noel Gallagher Slams Glastonbury as ‘Woke’ and ‘Virtue-Signalling’ Amid Political Controversies

 

Oasis legend Noel Gallagher has criticised the Glastonbury Festival, calling it “woke” and “preachy” in a candid podcast interview recorded ahead of this year’s event. Speaking with podcaster Matt Morgan, Gallagher expressed frustration with what he sees as increasing political posturing on the festival’s stages.

 

 

“It’s getting a bit woke now, that place, and a bit kind of preachy and a bit virtue-signalling,” said Gallagher, who last performed at Worthy Farm in 2022 with his band Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Despite his long-standing ties to the festival, he made it clear he’s uncomfortable with what he perceives as its growing political focus.

 

“I don’t like it in music – little fking idiots waving flags around and making political statements and bands taking the stage and saying, ‘Hey guys, isn’t war ­terrible, yeah? Let’s all boo war. Fk the Tories man,’ and all that,” he said. “It’s like, look – play your f**king tunes and get off.”

 

Gallagher also questioned the effectiveness of politically charged moments during music performances, arguing that festival-goers are already well-informed about global events. “Let’s just say, for instance, the world is in a bit of a fked up place … what’s all the kids in a field at Glastonbury going to do about it? Everybody knows what’s going on in the fking world, you’ve got a phone in your pocket that tells you anyway. What is the point of virtue-signalling?”

 

He further added, “Donate all your money to the cause – that’s it, stop yapping about it.”

 

His comments resurfaced just as political controversies emerged onstage at this year’s Glastonbury. Punk duo Bob Vylan led a chant of “death, death to the IDF” during their Saturday performance on the West Holts Stage. The chant was widely condemned and is now the subject of a police investigation.

 

Irish rap group Kneecap also made headlines after they led the crowd in chanting “f*** Keir Starmer,” referencing the UK Labour Party leader. The festival has since tried to distance itself from the more inflammatory rhetoric.

 

In an official statement, Glastonbury organisers said: “With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer's presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs.”

 

They added: “However, we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”

 

While Glastonbury has a long tradition of aligning with progressive causes, dating back more than fifty years, Gallagher’s critique taps into a growing backlash from parts of the music community who feel that art and activism are becoming too closely entwined. For Gallagher, the message was clear: “Play your music and leave the preaching out of it.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Manchester Evening News  2025-07-02

 

 

Noel who?

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Noel who?

Just someone calling out the likes of Bob Vylan's chant of “death, death to the IDF and little fking idiots waving flags around or idiots like him. So nobody you would support, don't worry about it like that little fking idiot in the OP image

 

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

“I don’t like it in music – little fking idiots waving flags around and making political statements and bands taking the stage and saying, ‘Hey guys, isn’t war ­terrible, yeah? Let’s all boo war. Fk the Tories man,’ and all that,” he said. “It’s like, look – play your f**king tunes and get off.”

 

He's totally correct in this instance of course. Posh kids like Bob Vylan making inane statements and the posh idiots in the crowd thinking they're "right on" for cheering him. 

 

Of course Gallagher publicly backed the war criminal and liar Tony Blair prior to Labour being elected in 97 so he isn't immune to musicians getting involved in politics and getting it all wrong. He was at least man enough to admit his mistake later.

 

 

 

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Noel who?

 

I'm guessing Noel Edmonds is more up your street. 

 

I heard you two go way back.

 

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Noel Gallagher Slams Glastonbury as ‘Woke’ and ‘Virtue-Signalling’ Amid Political Controversies

 

Oasis legend Noel Gallagher has criticised the Glastonbury Festival, calling it “woke” and “preachy” in a candid podcast interview recorded ahead of this year’s event. Speaking with podcaster Matt Morgan, Gallagher expressed frustration with what he sees as increasing political posturing on the festival’s stages.

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GuuHtlCW4AA17Oq?format=jpg&name=900x900

 

“It’s getting a bit woke now, that place, and a bit kind of preachy and a bit virtue-signalling,” said Gallagher, who last performed at Worthy Farm in 2022 with his band Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Despite his long-standing ties to the festival, he made it clear he’s uncomfortable with what he perceives as its growing political focus.

 

“I don’t like it in music – little fking idiots waving flags around and making political statements and bands taking the stage and saying, ‘Hey guys, isn’t war ­terrible, yeah? Let’s all boo war. Fk the Tories man,’ and all that,” he said. “It’s like, look – play your f**king tunes and get off.”

 

Gallagher also questioned the effectiveness of politically charged moments during music performances, arguing that festival-goers are already well-informed about global events. “Let’s just say, for instance, the world is in a bit of a fked up place … what’s all the kids in a field at Glastonbury going to do about it? Everybody knows what’s going on in the fking world, you’ve got a phone in your pocket that tells you anyway. What is the point of virtue-signalling?”

 

He further added, “Donate all your money to the cause – that’s it, stop yapping about it.”

 

His comments resurfaced just as political controversies emerged onstage at this year’s Glastonbury. Punk duo Bob Vylan led a chant of “death, death to the IDF” during their Saturday performance on the West Holts Stage. The chant was widely condemned and is now the subject of a police investigation.

 

Irish rap group Kneecap also made headlines after they led the crowd in chanting “f*** Keir Starmer,” referencing the UK Labour Party leader. The festival has since tried to distance itself from the more inflammatory rhetoric.

 

In an official statement, Glastonbury organisers said: “With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer's presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs.”

 

They added: “However, we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”

 

While Glastonbury has a long tradition of aligning with progressive causes, dating back more than fifty years, Gallagher’s critique taps into a growing backlash from parts of the music community who feel that art and activism are becoming too closely entwined. For Gallagher, the message was clear: “Play your music and leave the preaching out of it.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Manchester Evening News  2025-07-02

 

 

Can't stand them but he's talking sense.

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Noel who?

How these two yobbos get the media coverage they do is beyond me. The press treat their reunion like it's the Beatles reborn, when IMO they have one barely memorable song. 

8 minutes ago, giddyup said:

How these two yobbos get the media coverage they do is beyond me. The press treat their reunion like it's the Beatles reborn, when IMO they have one barely memorable song. 

Yes Wonderwall.

In there hayday giddyup Oasis were the biggest band on the Planet. After 20 odd years since they split no ones come close to them. On Friday they begin there reunion World tour with ticket Concerts sold out in hours so I wouldnt say there no one hit wonders Giddyup. What band around now can sell out Wembley Stadium for 7 nights bearing in mind the capacity is 90 thousand, thats nearly 700 thousand watching them in just 7 days.

Never been a fan of Brit Pop or wnkers like Oasis, but got to agree with him on this.

13 minutes ago, giddyup said:

How these two yobbos get the media coverage they do is beyond me. The press treat their reunion like it's the Beatles reborn, when IMO they have one barely memorable song. 

Noel's written a fair few decent tunes over the years, and still does.

Great band IMO. One of the best debut albums of all time.

 

Slide Away, Bring it on down, Columbia (so good they named a country after it), Live Forever. 

 

Marvellous.

 

Noel is a bit of a tool though. 

9 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

In there hayday giddyup Oasis were the biggest band on the Planet. After 20 odd years since they split no ones come close to them. On Friday they begin there reunion World tour with ticket Concerts sold out in hours so I wouldnt say there no one hit wonders Giddyup. What band around now can sell out Wembley Stadium for 7 nights bearing in mind the capacity is 90 thousand, thats nearly 700 thousand watching them in just 7 days.

Biggest band in the UK maybe, don't think they made much of an impact on the American scene. They appealed to all the chavs and chavettes for their obnoxious behavior.

This should be an interesting thread as most AN members are vehemently pro-war and are ready to implore their politicians to send Gen-X to fight "The Enemies Of The West" including Russians, Chinese, Iranians, Muslims, Arabs, Palestinians, Yemeni, North Koreans, and all from the Global South who fail to bend a knee.  Of course, they have no plans to fight themselves, heavens no.  

14 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Yes Wonderwall.

Yep, that's it, couldn't name another to save my life.

5 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Just someone calling out the likes of Bob Vylan's chant of “death, death to the IDF and little fking idiots waving flags around or idiots like him. So nobody you would support, don't worry about it like that little fking idiot in the OP image

 

 

recorded before bob Vylan's antics 

One of the least significant figures on the contemporary music scene today is complaining about musicians standing up and speaking their mind, when he never had the guts to speak out about any worthy causes other than himself. 

7 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Biggest band in the UK maybe, don't think they made much of an impact on the American scene. They appealed to all the chavs and chavettes for their obnoxious behavior.

Well every venue in there North American leg  of there World tour have sold out.

6 minutes ago, madone said:

recorded before bob Vylan's antics 

He was spot on right?

6 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

One of the least significant figures on the contemporary music scene today is complaining about musicians standing up and speaking their mind, when he never had the guts to speak out about any worthy causes other than himself. 

One of the least significant figures on the contemporary music scene today

 

Not to the British and he's done plenty for excellent and noble causes. 

It seems to be a tradition for musicians to write protest songs and condemn war. Rich old guys like Noel always complain about the young being too sensitive. In case you thought it is a modern thing, it has been going on for a long time: Joseph Haydn: Mass In a Time of War (1796), Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture (1880), Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 (1939-41) for example. 

 

15 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

In there hayday giddyup Oasis were the biggest band on the Planet.

They were "a band."  One of many.  I didn't particularly follow their music although i can play WonderWall on guitar and bass - good song.  I appreciate all forms of music and tend not to be the type of person who is an undying fan of a single band.  Some of their music is Ok.  But there are literally hundreds of bands whose music I like better.  Old school - Pink Floyd.  90s and 2000s: Muse and The Offspring.  God, there is so much good music out there why limit yourself to idolizing one freaking band?  And as far as bands expressing their views on society.  Why not?  Well, unless you are now living in one of the Western nations which are now moving toward totalitarian controls on freedom of speech while telling the world they are bastions of "Democracy" and "Freedom."  Maybe in the US where there are still constitutional guarantees of Freedom of Expression, but not so much in the EU, UK, and it's common-wealth countries.

So here is Noel  (whoever he is) Gallagher espousing his views on social commentary while throwing shade at others who are doing the same.  He doesn't like their political discourse and wants them silenced?  Again, he must be have been hiding under a rock all of his life as a lot of modern music IS political and social discourse and criticism. 

"They paved Paradise, and put up a parking lot."
-Jonie Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi

14 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

One of the least significant figures on the contemporary music scene today is complaining about musicians standing up and speaking their mind, when he never had the guts to speak out about any worthy causes other than himself. 

Thank you - well said. ❤️

4 minutes ago, Purdey said:

It seems to be a tradition for musicians to write protest songs and condemn war. Rich old guys like Noel always complain about the young being too sensitive. In case you thought it is a modern thing, it has been going on for a long time: Joseph Haydn: Mass In a Time of War (1796), Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture (1880), Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 (1939-41) for example. 

 

Excellent! 

2 minutes ago, connda said:

Thank you - well said. ❤️

 

1 minute ago, connda said:

Excellent! 

Rubbish......the ticket sales prove your wrong

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Noel who?

You must miss billy brag eh?  lol

 

50 minutes ago, giddyup said:

How these two yobbos get the media coverage they do is beyond me. The press treat their reunion like it's the Beatles reborn, when IMO they have one barely memorable song. 

"Yobbo's "   steady on grandad you'll be telling them to get their hair cut next and decrying the end of national service, they have plenty of songs , its only natural that your memory is not what it was

You tell em Noel. Being from Manchester we don't have much time for virtue signalling ponces.

Noel Gallagher does the right thing

Some publicity before "The Tour".

I hear he's writing  new song it's called "sour grapes gathered in the fields of Glastonbury" 

Better luck in 2027 Noel.

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Noel who?

Before your time. He's part of a band with brother; called Oasis; who had many hits world wide. Some people considered them to be as talented as the Beatles. You can research the rest yourself. 

Good for him.