Numerous anti-fascist groups and local residents are celebrating a significant victory after “Resurrection 4,” billed as Britain’s largest white power music festival in a decade, was canceled following intense community pressure and police scrutiny.
The event, scheduled for early September in Great Yarmouth, had been expected to draw approximately 500 neo-Nazis and skinheads to the seaside town during the same weekend as a local Pride celebration.
Organized by Rob Claymore, a British Movement supporter, and Robert Bray, a veteran neo-Nazi figure, the festival had been promoted through Telegram channels featuring Nazi slogans and through leafleting near Buckingham Palace.
The British Movement, which describes itself as the “voice of national socialism in Britain,” worked alongside Blood and Honour, a neo-Nazi music network whose assets were frozen by the UK government in January under Treasury sanctions.
The festival lineup included twelve bands with explicit neo-Nazi connections, including Germany’s Combat BC, America’s Birthrite, and British acts such as Crucified, Pressure 28, and Bulldog Breed.
These groups primarily perform in the ‘oi’ punk style, a working-class punk subgenre that has been appropriated by far-right extremists to spread their ideology.
Norfolk Police conducted investigations to locate the venue while monitoring potential attendee activity, working alongside the local council, which had expressed concerns about public safety.
Their combined efforts, alongside the campaign led by anti-fascist organization Hope Not Hate, created sufficient pressure to force the cancellation.
“This represents a significant blow to the white power music scene in Britain,” commented a spokesperson from Hope Not Hate, which spearheaded opposition to the event.
The campaign against the festival gained massive public support with over 34,000 people contacting the Home Office to prevent the event from taking place.
The widespread media coverage amplified public awareness and condemnation, demonstrating the effectiveness of grassroots resistance against hate events.
Unlike legitimate musicians who pursue diverse income streams through positive channels like performances, teaching, and merchandise, these neo-Nazi bands primarily exist to spread hate ideology.
The cancellation is being viewed as particularly meaningful due to the deliberate scheduling clash with the Pride event, highlighting the ongoing tension between far-right groups and advocates for inclusivity.
Local authorities expressed relief that the potential for community disruption and the promotion of extremist ideology had been averted.
Before its cancellation, the festival had sold around 500 tickets and generated £35,000 in revenue.
Unlike legitimate music events that focus on audience engagement and positive promotion, these gatherings serve primarily as recruitment and radicalization opportunities for extremist organizations.
