A TOP Welsh language act has been dropped from this year’s Green Man festival apparently over comments he made about Muslims.
Meic Stevens, who is regarded as a legend of the Welsh language rock scene and considered an esteemed singer songwriter by international acts, has been at the centre of a row following comments he made at a festival in Caernarfon at the weekend.
The 77-year-old was performing at the Gwyl Arall festival on Sunday when he made a comment about the number of Muslims on a bus in Cardiff where he was collecting his granddaughter from school.
It is also claimed, but denied by the singer, that he then said, in Welsh,: "They will be in Caernarfon soon."
A singer, Sera Owen, who was in the audience told the golwg360 website she and her boyfriend then walked out of the concert in response to the comment.
Comments on social media also accused the singer of having made a racist comment.
BBC Wales’ Newyddion 9 programme on S4C last night reported the Green Man festival, which takes place at the Glanusk Estate, near Crickhowell, had decided he wouldn’t be able to perform at this August’s festival as a result.
Today the official @GreenManFest Twitter account posted: "Meic Stevens will not to performing at Green Man this year".
The account made no further comment but several Twitter users posted comments in support of the decision.
The singer, who lives in Cardiff, has told the BBC’s Cymru Fyw website he was upset at having being accused of racism.
Speaking in Welsh to the BBC the singer said all he said was he had collected his granddaughter, on the bus, from school in Cardiff and he was struck by how many Muslims were on the bus. He added he hadn’t said anything nasty or racist about them.
He also said he hadn’t said anything about Muslims coming to Caernarfon.
The singer also reminded the BBC he had been part of the Rock Against Racism movement in the 1970s and 80s.
He also said he was considering no longer performing in Welsh due to the criticism aimed at him.
Green Man is considered the biggest music festival in Wales and earlier this year announced it would showcase Welsh language acts throughout the week ahead of the main headline stages opening at the weekend.
The festival takes place from August 15 to 18 this year.