Eurovision winner Conchita cancels Festival show after band barred

Eurovision-winning Austrian drag queen was due to perform at festival but band members, who are from Syria, denied visas

Eurovision song contest winner Conchita Wurst has cancelled her performance at the Edinburgh festival after her band members were denied visas.

The Austrian drag queen had been due to perform at the Friday night showing of New European Songbook alongside her Syrian ensemble, Basalt, who are based in Vienna.

But despite a supporting statement from the festival, each of the three Basalt members were unsuccessful with their visa applications. As a result, Wurst pulled out of the concert entirely, though it will still go ahead with the remaining acts.

A statement from the festival said: “We are very disappointed to announce that the Syrian artists were unsuccessful in their application for visas to perform live at the concert.

“The concert will go ahead with a specially recorded introduction by Conchita and Basalt and a film of their performance.

“The international festival has issued an open invitation to Conchita and Basalt to perform later at this year’s festival. If this is not possible, the invitation will be extended to the 2018 international festival.”

Wurst is an Austrian recording artist and drag queen portrayed by Thomas Neuwirth. She came to international attention after winning the Eurovision song contest in 2014 with Rise Like a Phoenix.

The festival is on the Home Office list of permit-free festivals, which allows artists who need a visa to enter the country to apply for a standard visitor’s visarather than a working visa.

Basalt applied to enter the UK on this basis but were unsuccessful. They are a Syrian trio who formed in 2016 in Austria. They perform a mix of styles including alternative, blues and rock.

The New European Songbook presents new music from across the continent in two wide-ranging concerts. Each night sees a selection of musicians come together to perform new pieces of music for the first time. Musicians from across Europe share the stage with others who have recently made Europe their home.

A Home Office official said: “We do not routinely comment on individual cases. All visa applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with the immigration rules.”