Sponsorship - A ban on sponsors with links to fossil fuels could put "incredibly important organisations" in danger, the parliamentary under-secretary for energy has warned. During a government debate about a proposed tobacco-style ban on adverts and sponsors with links to fossil fuels, another minister claimed that environmental activists forcing corporate sponsors to withdraw their support from cultural events was "madness" in a landscape where funding is sparse.
Other MPs, however, demanded that the government show courage by banning the practice, with many labelling it an urgent issue of public health. The debate was brought to parliament by a petition that calls for a tobacco-style ban on fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship, which has gained more than 110,000 signatures to date. Proposing it to the government, Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage said that, in order to transition away from fossil fuels fast enough to stave off climate disaster, the government needed to deviate from "business as usual".
Glastonbury - BBC employees with the authority to cut the live stream of Bob Vylan's Glastonbury performance were among 550 members of staff at the festival, director general Tim Davie has said. Ending the broadcast "was an option open to those on the ground on the day", Davie wrote in a letter to the Commons' culture select committee.
The punk duo led a chant of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]" and made other derogatory comments during the performance, prompting apologies from the BBC and Glastonbury, as well as triggering a police investigation. The corporation has previously admitted failings after it emerged the band were deemed "high risk" prior to their performance.
BBC chairman Samir Shah has said the decision not to pull the live feed was "unquestionably an error of judgement" after strong criticism of the corporation's handling of the incident.
Clueless - Clueless the Musical has announced it will close early, after six months in the West End. The musical adaptation of the 1995 film had recently announced an extension until March next year but has now said it will close on 23 August before embarking on a UK tour, beginning in September next year. The tour will open the Churchill Theatre in Bromley.
Stolen Property - Unreleased music by Beyoncé was among several items stolen from a vehicle in Atlanta just days before the singer's four-night Cowboy Carter tour stop in the city, authorities have confirmed. Hard drives containing the unreleased songs, show plans, and past and future set lists for her tour were among the items stolen from a rental car used by the singer's choreographer and one of her dancers, according to a police report. The theft occurred on 8 July, two days before Beyoncé's first Atlanta performance.
Sour Note - Drake's three-day residency at London's Wireless Festival concluded on a sour note after the rapper's headline slot ended after 40 minutes. Appearing on stage ten minutes earlier than scheduled, he told the crowd he would perform until his microphone was cut off - referencing the strict 21:30 curfew. Fans were also left feeling shortchanged after the set featured just three special guests - Popcaan, Rema and Vybz Kartel. Saturday night's show, which ran for 90 minutes, featured 13 special guests, while Friday's show also had a similar runtime and included six surprise acts.
Wall Music - A mural honouring rock band The Zombies has been unveiled in their hometown after money was raised by fans from across the globe. The coloured portrait of the band was painted on to the side of the Pioneer Club in St Albans, Hertfordshire, where the band had their first rehearsal in 1961. It was unveiled to the group - whose hits include Time of the Season and She's Not There - on Saturday to coincide with a screening of their new documentary film, Hung Up On A Dream.
Farewell - Dave Cousins, founding member and longtime frontman of the Strawbs has died, aged 85. A statement on his Facebook page reads, "We will all wish to celebrate the life of this incredible singer-songwriter, relation, colleague and/or special friend at this time. We, therefore, ask you to enjoy listening to your favourite Cousins song as the sun goes down, in whatever part of the world you are, enjoying what he would refer to as a glass of vino collapso . . .” RIP.
(Jim Evans)
