Bands Pull Out of SXSW Because of U.S. Army Sponsorship

It’s South By Southwest Conference (SXSW) time in Austin, Texas. It is an annual event that is “a global event for digital creatives to explore cutting-edge ideas, discover new interests, and network with professionals.” 

The conference dates this year are March 8-15. 

Austin is a big live music city and SXSW brings in musicians from all over the world. This year there is controversy because many bands and musicians scheduled to perform at the festival are pulling out of the event because of the U.S. Army’s “super sponsorship” of the festival. They are also taking a pass on performing because of America’s support of Israel in the Israel-Hamas war. 

For example, there’s a rap trio called Kneecap that is based in Belfast, Ireland. The group calls the sponsorship “depraved” in light of the war. 

“We cannot in good conscience attend an arts festival that has the U.S. Army as a ‘super sponsor’ and is platforming RTX (formerly Raytheon), Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems, the very companies selling the weapons that have murdered 31,000 Palestinians, over 21,000 of them women and children,” the group said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

We will not be appearing at @sxsw festival. 👇 pic.twitter.com/nt5hEMH2GM

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) March 10, 2024

Kneecap is one of several bands that have decided not to perform. The list includes Lambrini Girls, Scowl, Gel, Okay Shalom, Squirrel Flower, and Sprints. They were set to perform during the music festival part of the conference, March 11-16. The festival typically attracts over 300,000 people every year. Kneecap admits that their little protest move will have “a significant financial impact” on them. Them’s the breaks. Kneecap went on to say, “But it isn’t an iota of hardship when compared to the unimaginable suffering being inflicted every minute, every day on the people of Gaza.” 

The Jew haters never express any concern about Israel or the fact that the war began because of the massacres by Hamas, killing Jews while a ceasefire was in place on October 7, 2023. Nope. They willingly are useful idiots of Hamas, spreading the internationally recognized terrorist organization’s propaganda.  

Shouldn’t the trio be sued for breach of contract? Seems like that should be on the table. 

Others weighed in. What’s the good of egotistical protesting if no one knows you’re doing it, right?

Lily Macieira and Phoebe Lunny of Lambrini Girls, a Brighton-based band, said on social media that their boycott of SXSW was necessary to avoid “becoming totally inauthentic” in their claims of solidarity with Palestine.

“We were considering going to the festival and protesting on stage, but there isn’t a way to do that doesn’t feel performative or inherently exploitative,” they said. 

“There’s always a right thing to do and it’s almost never as complicated as the establishment wants you to believe. And sometimes it costs you a dream, but a dream is a dream and not a life,” Brooklyn-based artist Okay Shalom said in a statement to social media announcing her departure from SXSW. 

“A music festival should not include war profiteers. I refuse to be complicit in this and withdraw my art and labor in protest,” Ella Williams, also known as Squirrel Flower, said in her social media statement.

Squirrel’s statement was on Instagram and it was a long one. Okay Shalom did the same and posted its tour schedule.

Governor Abbott responded as you might expect him to do. 

Bands pull out of SXSW over U.S. Army sponsorship.

Bye. Don’t come back.

Austin remains the HQ for the Army Futures Command.

San Antonio is Military City USA.

We are proud of the U.S. military in Texas.

If you don’t like it, don’t come here.
https://t.co/t3RyQgLRKN

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 12, 2024

Heh. My governor is very good. 

More than 60 artists, musicians, and panelists have joined The Austin for Palestine Coalition in joining in on the protest. The coalition’s campaign is “War Mongers out of SXSW.” They ask people to email SXSW to ask that the conference disinvite Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems, to reevaluate the sponsorship of agencies in the Department of Defense, and to use its platform to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Maybe they should ask their useful idiots to email the leadership of Hamas since that is who is responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 

The super sponsorship must be a profitable one or SXSW wouldn’t be doing it and taking the grief from the clueless progressives. 

Just in case anyone thinks SXSW is going a little conservative, think again. They posted a response to Governor Abbott’s tweet. Then they released a statement.

SXSW does not agree with Governor Abbott. https://t.co/fOHHn9r5BG

— SXSW (@sxsw) March 12, 2024

“We are an organization that welcomes diverse viewpoints. Music is the soul of SXSW, and it has long been our legacy. We fully respect the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech. 

“Across the globe, we are witnessing unspeakable tragedies, the rise of repressive regimes, and the increasing spread of violent conflict. It’s more crucial than ever that we come together to solve these greater humanitarian issues.

“The defense industry has historically been a proving ground for many of the systems we rely on today. These institutions are often leaders in emerging technologies, and we believe it’s better to understand how their approach will impact our lives.

“The Army’s sponsorship is part of our commitment to bring forward ideas that shape our world. In regards to Collins Aerospace, they participated this year as a sponsor of two SXSW Pitch categories, giving entrepreneurs visibility and funding for potentially game-changing work.

“We have and will continue to support human rights for all. The situation in the Middle East is tragic, and it illuminates the heightened importance of standing together against injustice.”

Statements, statements everywhere. An Army spokesperson joined the discussion.

U.S. Army spokesperson Matt Ahearn issued the following statement:

“We’re proud to be a sponsor of SXSW, and to have the opportunity to showcase America’s Army. SXSW presents a unique opportunity for the Army to meet technology innovators and leaders, explore new ideas and insights, and create dynamic industry partnerships as we modernize for the future.”

The Department of Defense/U.S. Military will sponsor a SXSW stage. On Thursday, the Austin for Palestine Coalition and the United Musicians and Allied Workers Union will host a “Fair Pay at SXSW” protest show and rally at that location. 

All of this changes nothing in the Israel-Hamas war. It’s posturing for their peers. It’s a disappointment for their fans, though, and they should let their disappointment be heard.