Portishead reuniting (on video) for Brian Eno’s ‘Together for Palestine’ benefit show in London

Portishead haven’t played a public concert in 10 years and haven’t played together at all apart from a 2022 livestream benefit for Warchild during lockdown. But Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian Utley are reuniting for Brian Eno‘s upcoming Together for Palestine benefit concert at Wembley Arena on September 17.

Actually, they already did it. “Yesterday we got together for Palestine,” Utley wrote earlier today on his Instagram. “Although we can’t be there in person on the 17th we’re proud to be a part of this event and community standing in solidarity with Palestine and calling for an end to the genocide.” The Instagram featured an updated version of the Together for Palestine poster, along with a picture of Portishead on stage together and a short video clip. They’ve recorded a new performance of “Roads,” which will be shown at the concert.

Gibbons, Barrow and Utley have remained friends, and while it seems to take something very special to get them on stage together these days, it does offer fans just a little glimmer of hope.

Also added to the benefit concert’s lineup: Celeste, Nadine Shah, Leigh-Anne, and Palestinian artists Saint Levant, Elyanna, and El Far3i.

They join previously announced performers Damon Albarn, King Krule, James Blake, Jamie xx, Hot Chip, Bastille, Cat Burns, Adnan Joubran, Faraj Suleiman, Mabel, Obongjayar, Sampha, Paloma Faith, Rachel Chinouriri, and Greentea Peng, with appearances from Rina Sawayama, Riz Ahmed, PinkPantheress, Benedict Cumberbatch, Guy Pearce, Ramy Youssef, Jameela Jamil, Amer Hlehel, Charithra Chandran, Motaz Malhees, Louis Theroux and more.

As for what to expect, we asked Hot Chip about it on this week’s episode of the BrooklynVegan Interview Podcast. “I think what they’re trying to encourage, really, is to bring musicians together to do bespoke collaborations for that event,” Alexis Taylor told us, without giving away too much.”An opportunity to do something you haven’t really done elsewhere and play with other people, which is part of the reason why it’s exciting and part of the reason why it’s challenging, just to figure all of that out. But certainly, it’s a very important thing for us to be taking part in, and also I think it will be a really good event when it comes around.” Taylor also says yes, Brian Eno will also be performing as part of it. Listen to the whole episode here.

Check out the new Together for Palestine poster below.