Irish artists pull out of SXSW in solidarity with Palestine and protest of festival military sponsorship
Update: See latest article here: All Irish bands have now cancelled their official SXSW performances.
A multitude of artists, including Ireland’s own Kneecap, Soda Blonde, Gavin James and Sprints, have pulled out of SXSW in support of Palestine after the festival’s links with the US Army and defence companies emerged.
Update: Following the initial cancellation of Irish artists, Robert Grace, Chalk, Mick Flannery along with Northern Irish artists Enola Gay, Conchur White and Reevah (who are on separate UK NI funding) also cancelled their official showcases, totalling nine artists from the island. Cardinals, Gurriers and NewDad have now also cancelled meaning all 10 Irish acts will no longer play.
On Sunday, the Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap, comprised of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí announced they would no longer be playing the annual Austin, Texas showcase in “solidarity with the people of Palestine”.
Kneecap’s move to cancel their three shows at the festival was also made to “highlight the unacceptable deep links the festival has to weapons companies and the US military”.
The Belfast trio explained that they considered playing only “unofficial events” but as this would still contribute to the festival indirectly they opted not to but hope any fans headed to the SXSW shows could still attend other dates on their tour around the US.
That the organisers of SXSW have taken the decision to mix the arts with the military and weapons companies is unforgivable, that they have done so as we witness a genocide facilitated by the US military and its contractors is depraved.
Kneecap
We will not be appearing at @sxsw festival. 👇 pic.twitter.com/nt5hEMH2GM
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) March 10, 2024
Sprints and Soda Blonde followed suit
Irish garage rockers Sprints followed suit, announcing in the early hours of Monday morning they would also be pulling out of SXSW “in solidarity with the Palestinian people and as a stand against the US Army sponsorship and defence contractor involvement in this year’s festival”.
Soda Blonde were joined shortly after by singer-songwriter Gavin James who also cancelled his shows at SXSW.
Following the initial cancellation, Robert Grace, Chalk, Mick Flannery, Enola Gay and Reevah (who were on separate UK NI funding) also cancelled their official showcases.
10 Irish artists were initially announced for SXSW, now all have cancelled.
The full list of artists from Ireland and Northern Ireland who have cancelled SXSW are:
- Chalk
- Gavin James
- Kneecap
- Mick Flannery
- Robert Grace
- Soda Blonde
- SPRINTS
- Gurriers
- NewDad
- Cardinals
- Enola Gay (NI)
- Conchur White (NI)
- Reevah
Music From Ireland Statement
The Culture Ireland facilitators’ Music From Ireland are meeting with the remaining three Irish artists and will support whatever decision they make..
A number of artists participating in the SXSW Music From Ireland Showcase have decided not to participate due to concerns around SXSW sponsors. One of Culture Ireland’s (funders of Music From Ireland) and Music from Ireland’s core values is that of artistic freedom of expression and we do not mediate or advise artists in relation to choices they make on any matter whether political, artistic or otherwise.If an artist chooses not to participate in SXSW this will not have a bearing on future showcasing opportunities for those artists. Music from Ireland and Culture Ireland actively supports artists’ right to freedom of expression, which is fundamental to their role as agents of change in society.
We are facilitating a meeting today (Tuesday) with artists who have travelled to Austin so they may make a decision on how they want to proceed.
We will support whatever decision they make and update our plans accordingly.
Soda Blonde also confirmed this morning, that they would not travel to Texas to play the Austin music/tech/film showcase festival, saying “music is about unity, healing, and the transcendent power of shared experience-not about endorsing or normalising the machinery of war. The decision to involve entities directly linked to the global arms trade, and by extension the ongoing atrocities in Palestine, is not just tone- deaf; it’s morally reprehensible.
We were excited to join SXSW, expecting a celebration of diverse voices and creativity. Instead, we find ourselves being asked to tacitly endorse the military-industrial complex, something we cannot and will not do…”
We have officially withdrawn from @sxsw pic.twitter.com/8TxWaOMQOz
— Soda Blonde (@sodablonde) March 11, 2024
Over a dozen artists have dropped out of the lineup in recent days in protest of the festival’s close ties with the US Army and defence companies RTX (formally Raytheon), Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems.
The US Army is listed as a “featured partner” on the SXSW website, with a page on the schedule inviting you to “discover the US Army’s role in innovation, technology, and national security”. Collins Aerospace, which is a subsidiary of RTX, is also featured on the schedule for SXSW.
The wave of pull-outs from the showcase comes after local group Austin 4 Palestine called on SXSW to “disinvite Raytheon, Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems from the festival” and to “reevaluate the inclusion of agencies in the Department of Defense in events and discussions hosted by the festival.”
According to the coalition, RTX manufactures missiles and bombs for the Israeli military, Collins Aerospace provides components for IDF aircraft, while BAE Systems has supplied weapons used in the occupation of Palestinian territories.
So far, although this list is not exhaustive with more artists dropping out as pressure mounts, Eliza McLamb, TC Superstar, Sprints, Shalom, Mamalarky, Merce Lemon, Lambrini Girls, Proper, Gel, The Curls, Squirrel Flower, and the aforementioned Irish artists have all pulled from the festival citing SXSW’s links with these companies and the US Army.
Kneecap’s decision to withdraw from SXSW comes days after their US TV debut on The Tonight Show presented by Jimmy Fallon.
The band performed ‘Sick In The Head’, the recent single from the upcoming album Fine Art which came after the band’s film was picked up at Sundance in January.
