De La Soul, Damon Albarn, Pussy Riot Close Out Banksy’s Dismaland
Banksy’s dystopian “bemusement” park Dismaland entered the final weekend of its occupation of the sleepy British seaside town of Weston-super-Mare Friday night with a farewell concert featuring Pussy Riot, De La Soul and Damon Albarn. Massive Attack were originally scheduled to headline Dismaland’s final night festivities but cancelled their gig; De La Soul and their surprise guest – a thinly disguised Albarn – stepped in as replacements and delivered their collaborative Gorillaz track “Feel Good Inc.,” albeit with some early microphone problems.
De La Soul also performed their “Me, Myself & I” during the “Masked Ball” performance. According to the Bristol Post, Albarn along with many of the Dismaland guests wore masks so Banksy – himself disguised – could attend the concert and not have his identity revealed. “Dress code – due to the amount of paparazzi staking out the park in recent weeks Banksy has requested people come masked-up so he can attend the event without being photographed,” a Dismaland statement said. Banksy and Albarn previously worked together when the artist designed the cover image of Blur’s Think Tank.
Russian punk group/political activists Pussy Riot were also on hand for Dismaland’s final concert, and the troupe staged a performance art piece featuring fake protesters, riot police and a new song titled “Refugees In,” a song inspired by the wave of Syrian refugees now seeking safety in Europe. The performance was a collaboration between Pussy Riot and British artists the Connor Brothers.
“Regardless of ones political views we have a moral duty to offer refuge to people fleeing war and persecution,” Pussy Riot said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “We recognize the challenge faced by Europe in accepting hundreds of thousands of displaced people, but this is more than a political challenge – it is a humanitarian crisis and as such we must act together and rise to the challenge. Having experienced persecution during the 2 years we spent in a Russian prison and repeated incidents of attack by Russian authorities we feel solidarity with those who suffer under oppressive regimes, and believe we have a moral duty to press governments into developing a united and comprehensive plan that puts humanity before politics.”
Previous Dismaland performers included Run the Jewels, Fatboy Slim, Savages and Peanut Butter Wolf. The bemusement park will officially close its gates on Sunday, and there are some big unconfirmed rumors regarding who might be on hand for the exhibit’s last day.