A planned review of Boardmasters festival's licence was cancelled after a member of the public withdrew their complaint, organisers and council sources said.
The hearing, due to take place on Wednesday at Cornwall Council, was called off on Tuesday afternoon after complainant Andrea Lovett asked for her representation to be withdrawn. Lovett said her "sole intention" in lodging the complaint was to protest the decision to book the rap-punk duo Bob Vylan and that she had "no desire" to stop the 2026 festival.
Hundreds of members of the public had written to Cornwall councillors ahead of this summer's Boardmasters festival near Newquay, asking for the duo to be prevented from performing. Councillors said they did not have the power to ban artists from appearing at private events. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the correspondence formed part of the impetus for the licence review request.
A Boardmasters spokesperson said the festival was "grateful for the constructive dialogue" around its programming and reiterated a commitment to ensuring events were "safe, inclusive and positive experiences for all". The festival took place last month and the review was prompted by concerns raised about the appearance of Bob Vylan at the event.
Bob Vylan, a rap-punk duo, attracted significant controversy after they made anti-Israeli military chants during their appearance at the Glastonbury festival in June, which was broadcast on the BBC. That incident prompted public backlash and fresh scrutiny of the decision by festivals and promoters to book the act.
Cornwall Council's licensing committee can hold reviews when representations are made about licensed events, but the withdrawal of the formal complaint removed the immediate procedural basis for the scheduled hearing. Council officers confirmed the review would not proceed in the absence of a complainant wishing to press the case.
The cancellation means there will be no immediate change to Boardmasters' licence conditions as a result of this challenge. The festival and local authorities did not indicate any further steps following the withdrawal, and Lovett said she did not seek to prevent future editions of the event.
The episode highlights tensions festival organisers face when public objections to artists intersect with the limits of local government powers over private events and programming decisions. Organisers and councils continue to balance concerns about public order, safety and free expression when responding to public complaints about performers.