German punk band Trigger Cut denied entry into UK for tour due to post-Brexit rules

German punk band, Trigger Cut have said they were “humiliated” and “degraded” after being refused entry to the UK for the British leg of their tour, citing “opaque and confusing” post-Brexit rules.

The three-piece band from Stuttgart were set to perform at seven different venues in the UK this week but were turned away by the UK Border Force at Calais on Thursday, April 6th.

Frontman of The Charlatans, Tim Burgess, outlined how the German band’s “nightmare” experience reflected the damage of Brexit to touring musicians.

“What happened to Trigger Cut is scary,” Burgess stated when speaking to The Guardian, “as bands from the EU are facing confusing and complex rules that mean UK tour dates might just not be worth their while.”

Longtime music agent and co-founder of Carry On Touring and ukeartswork.info Ian Smith has said he has heard of EU artists each month who are refused entry due to the requirements that accompany post-Brexit regulations.

“They are so bloody opaque and confusing,” he told the publication.

Trigger Cut detailed their ordeal of being held in a room for verification at Calais whilst their passports were confiscated. A Border Force officer asked them for a “certificate of sponsorship” (COS) from each venue they were due to play before the band was refused entry.

The trio’s guitarist, Ralph Schaarschmidt, wrote in a post on Facebook yesterday that, “Months of planning, 1,750km of driving to Calais and back to Stuttgart, van hire costs, paid for expensive customs declarations, ferry ticket – all for nothing. We are sitting in a deep dark hole emotionally right now, this is a nightmare … I think I’ve never felt so degrad[ed], sad and bad as I do today.”

According to Smith, the outfit from Stuttgart were denied entry as they were not in possession of COS certificates. They had instead planned entry with “permitted paid engagement” (PPE) exemption, which is free. This exemption allows musicians to spend up to a month touring the UK if invited and paid by a UK-based organisation or client. Artists utilising PPE must be able to present a formal invitation to attend a pre-arranged event, and prove they possess the means to support themselves during the trip, including the ability to afford their return journey.

Regarded as “a safer bet” a COS is an alternative means of entry for artists into the UK but includes a great deal more paperwork, Smith said. It also includes the requirement of a promoter’s sponsorship, who will need to vouch for the artist’s stay in the UK and check their eligibility.

Carry On Touring’s co-founder has detailed how many artists were getting stuck at the border as a result of unclear government guidance and the fact that these guidelines were only printed in English and not in any other EU language. Another contributing factor he included was the “individual border officers…discretion to refuse anyone they like at the border and there is no right of appeal.”

Due to the incident, Schaarschmidt has stated that he would not try to tour the UK again, stating that “Despite all the love for music, these bureaucratic, cost-intensive, humiliating conditions are not at all tolerable.”

Tim Burgess has called on the government to implement changes which make it easier for bands to play live for fans who want to see them, both UK artists in the EU and vice versa.

“The government rattle on enough that music is one of the UK’s strongest exports but they are hollowing out the chances for new artists in the future,” he said.

Similarly, Ian Smith has called on the government to inform UK promoters and venues of entry requirements for overseas artists, to prevent other artists facing the same fate as Trigger Cut.

When asked by The Guardian to answer questions on Trigger Cut’s refusal, a government spokesperson said, “Musicians and performers are a valued and important part of UK culture with the country attracting world class entertainers and musicians from around the globe. This is why we offer a dedicated immigration route for creative workers.

“All visa applications are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the immigration rules. The application process is designed to ensure that all visa decisions can be made using the most accurate information and is fair for all applicants.”