German band boycott the UK after “humiliating” border experience due to new Brexit rules

nme.com:

Brexit rule changes.“Today we got refused at the UK border for weird reasons,” the band wrote in a Facebook update. “We would have needed a special certificate of sponsorship but no one knew before, not even the venues, promoters, or the German customs authority.”“Brexit bureaucracy???

A post-Brexit nightmare,” they continued, adding that the whole ordeal at the UK border was “humiliating” and “sad”.They elaborated on the reasons behind their denied entry into the UK in another update, saying that the UK authorities expected them to have “a so-called certificate of sponsorship from all seven clubs,” – something which they claim even the organisers were unfamiliar with.“I think I’ve never felt so degraded, sad, and bad as I do today.

We were completely unfairly rejected and were not allowed to enter the UK. We were handed over like criminals to the French border police and had to leave Calais,” the trio wrote, explaining that they won’t be attempting to tour the UK again.“The pain and humiliation runs deep,” they said. “The first attempt to tour there had COVID devastated us and we were left with massive costs that were not repaid.”Upon hearing about Trigger Cut’s experience, frontman of The Charlatans, Tim Burgess, took to Twitter and explained how Brexit is impacting touring musicians.“UK based bands have faced all sorts of issues with European tour dates – Now artists from the EU are being hit with complex and unfathomable rules that are seeing them turned back – cancelling shows and incurring costs,” he wrote.“Before long, upcoming bands and emerging artists won’t be able to play in Europe due to costs and red tape,” he continued. “Nobody from the EU will come to play here, filling our venues, inspiring the audience..