Extra Bands Cancel In Protest Of Military & Protection Contractor Sponsorship

Earlier this week, Chicago indie rock artist Squirrel Flower introduced she was pulling out of subsequent week’s SXSW Music in protest of the pageant platforming the US Military and protection contractors supplying weapons used in opposition to Palestinians in Gaza. Different artists like Eliza McLamb, Shalom, Mamalarky, and Merce Lemon adopted go well with. Since then extra bands — together with Scowl, Glare, and Tomato Flower — have canceled their official SXSW showcase appearances as properly.

On Friday, Santa Cruz hardcore crew Scowl shared a press release to X, saying they “refuse to be complicit within the face of genocide in Palestine.” Learn it in full:

Scowl is now not acting at any of our beforehand scheduled “official” SXSW showcases.

We got here to this determination in protest of the U.S. Military’s sponsorship of SXSW. In addition to the involvement of RTX (previously Raytheon), Collins Aerospace, and BAE Techniques whom have direct ties to the manufacturing and supplying of weapons used in opposition to Palestinians.

We refuse to be complicit within the face of genocide in Palestine. We refuse to take part within the conflict machine.

We’ll nonetheless be acting at our scheduled unofficial showcases.

Across the identical time, the New Jersey hardcore band Gel posted:

“We shall be pulling out of all official SXSW reveals subsequent week. There’s no purpose for @sxsw to contain the music of our friends and music at giant with the US Military and protection corporations which can be actively committing and/or complicit in genocide. Free Palestine 🇵🇸”

And Texas shoegazers Glare posted their very own replace on Instagram, writing, “We shall be dropping off all official SXSW reveals efficient instantly. Up to date schedule drops quickly. Free Palestine. 🇵🇸”

Scowl, Gel, and Glare have been all on the lineup for Flatspot Information’ March 16 occasion, which is now eradicating its official affiliation with SXSW completely: “We won’t assist the involvement of the U.S. Military and protection corporations at SXSW,” the label introduced. “Flatspot World continues to be a go, now at The Little Darlin – Free and All Ages. Doorways will now be at 4pm.” That showcase additionally contains Buggin, Finish It, Kharma, and others.

In the present day, Baltimore indie rock band Tomato Flower dropped off SXSW too, writing, “We’re withdrawing from SXSW official showcases in assist of the motion in opposition to the pageant’s ties to the military- industrial complicated.”

UPDATE: Squirrel Flower has shared a bigger checklist of bands who’ve dropped out of SXSW. It has Horse Jumper Of Love, They Are Gutting A Physique Of Water, This Is Lorelei, Buffalo Nichols, The Curls, Joyer, Greg Freman, Fantasy Of A Damaged Coronary heart, and extra. See it under.