American Jewish Reggae star Matisyahu has performed at the Spanish music festival he was banned from - and then re-invited to - to catcalls and an audience waving Palestinian flags.
Last weekend the Rototom festival in Benicassim rejected Matisyahu from its line-up after he refused a request to publicly back a Palestinian state as a result of pressure from the BDS movement. Rototom then backtracked on Wednesday, releasing a statement saying they reject antisemitism and asking the singer to perform at Saturday’s concert as originally scheduled.
However, dozens of protesters attended the concert and greeted his performance with shouts of “Out! Out!”, while waving Palestinian flags.
“Tonight was difficult but special,” he later posted on Facebook.
Tonight was difficult but special. Thank you to everyone who made it possible! Every chance to make music is a blessing.
Posted by Matisyahu on Saturday, 22 August 2015
Earlier in the week Matisyahu condemned the attempt to "coerce (him) into political statements" and said politics played no part in his music.
"Whoever you are and wherever you come from raise a flag and wave it in the air," Matisyahu told the crowd before his final song. "Let music be your flag."
