Rock band cancels tour 'due to Brexit'

Twisted State of Mind hoped to spend this month performing in locations including Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, but will instead play just one show in the city of Hannover in July.

The Witney group cancelled the tour after several companies were reluctant to sponsor them, due to the 'additional costs' of funding a British band during the Brexit uncertainty.

These worries centre around providing expensive working visas once Britain leaves the EU, while guitarist Luke Ashby revealed they were even struggling to find a record label.

He said: "The tour is no longer going ahead but it may do in the future.

"We'd love to do it anyway but we've no longer got the exposure to those opportunities. No one wants to sign a British band."

Mr Ashby was in Germany last week recording for the band's latest project, which is set to be released later this year.

The guitarist revealed he was eligible for an Irish passport and had 'considered' applying for one.

The group have been working with producer Tommy Newton, who is based in the country and experienced issues with working visas himself.

He previously mentioned how sponsors' 'hands were tied' until the Brexit uncertainty cleared.

Mr Ashby added: "Tommy mentioned how this also happened in the 1980s in America with his band, and they were caught touring without visas, and charged a lot of money.

"Hence, with the financial implications of Brexit up in the air, companies are hesitant to make anything happen until it’s taken place."

Mr Ashby is joined in the band by lead singer Ben Comley, bass guitarist Joe Wastie and drummer Damon Marshall, son of Witney Music Festival chairman, Eric Marshall.

The quartet, all 19, have already performed several times in Europe and America, but viewed the tour of Germany as their big break.

They first gigged abroad six years ago, aged just 13, when they headlined the SavFest metal festival at the ICAC Hall in Gloucester, New Jersey.

But this year's tour was first thrown into doubt earlier this year, when it became clear the UK would struggle to leave the EU by the original departure date of March 29.

Some companies had agreed to finance costs including equipment and transport, but other aspects of the tour, such as press and photo opportunities, would also need to be covered.

Among the firms set to sponsor the tour was global sports, events and talent management giant, IMG, which did not respond to a request for comment.

The UK failed to leave the EU by the original deadline after Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit withdrawal agreement was rejected three times by MPs.

EU leaders have since backed a six-month extension until October 31, but the UK will leave before then if the deal is ratified by both parties.