Brisbane band The Mouldy Lovers has cancelled its lucrative gig at the G20 Cultural Celebrations in protest at the political summit.

Band member Jonathan Sri said the cultural events organised by the Queensland Government were an attempt to distract people from thinking critically about G20.

Vladimir Putin will visit Brisbane for the G20, but won't hear Mouldy Lovers play. Credit:Marko Djurica

"We looked at how they were being promoted in the media and the kind of messaging the government was using," he said.

"(The decision) was really prompted by a story we saw that had the angle 'Forget politics, let's party.'"