Pulp Returns to Australia After Festival Resolves Boycott

A festival crisis that threatened to silence hundreds of voices just found its way back to harmony.

British indie band Pulp announced they'll perform at Adelaide Festival next month after organizers apologized to Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah and reversed their decision to cancel her appearance. The move ends a standoff that saw more than 180 writers withdraw from the festival in protest.

The controversy began when Adelaide Writers' Week cut Abdel-Fattah's speaking slot over her commentary on Israel and Zionism. Writers' Week director Louise Adler resigned in opposition to the decision, and the entire 2025 Writers' Week was ultimately cancelled.

Pulp, led by frontman Jarvis Cocker, had refused to perform at the event, saying they were "appalled" by the author's treatment. The band made clear they "refuse to condone the silencing of voices" and oppose censorship in all forms.

After a new festival board was installed this week, the Adelaide Festival Corporation issued a formal apology to Abdel-Fattah and invited her to speak at the 2027 event. The author accepted the apology and said she would consider participating, especially if Adler returns as director.

The resolution satisfied Pulp enough to honor their commitment. The band will perform a free concert on the festival's opening night, February 27, marking their first Australian performance since 2011.

The Ripple Effect

What started as one cancelled appearance grew into a movement of solidarity that reshaped an entire cultural institution. The mass withdrawal of writers sent a powerful message about artistic freedom and the importance of diverse voices in public discourse.

The new festival board's willingness to reverse course and apologize demonstrates that institutions can listen, learn, and change direction when community pressure demands it. Their actions preserved relationships with hundreds of artists who might otherwise have boycotted the festival for years to come.

Pulp's decision to perform creates space for reconciliation. Their free concert offers Adelaide residents a chance to experience world-class music while celebrating the power of dialogue over division. The band hopes different communities will "come together in peace and harmony" at the show.

The resolution also validates the writers who risked their festival spots to stand up for a colleague. Their collective action proved that solidarity can produce real change, even when facing powerful institutions.

For Adelaide, a city known for its vibrant arts scene, the outcome protects the festival's reputation as a place where diverse perspectives can be heard. Future artists and writers will remember that when the community pushed back against censorship, the festival ultimately chose inclusion.

Pulp takes the stage in just six weeks, turning what could have been a cultural catastrophe into a celebration of free expression and community strength.