Several artists and bands have made the decision to withdraw from the popular SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, in protest of the U.S. Army’s sponsorship of the event. The boycott was initiated by the Austin for Palestine Coalition, who raised concerns about the U.S. military and weapons manufacturing companies connected to SXSW allegedly supplying weapons to the Israeli military.
Among the bands that have pulled out of the festival are Squirrel Flower and Scowl, who cited these ties as their reason for boycotting the event. Texas Governor Greg Abbott responded to the boycott by telling the bands not to come back, but SXSW released a statement emphasizing its commitment to diverse viewpoints and human rights, despite the governor’s comments.
Despite the withdrawals, the festival has continued as scheduled with over 2,000 performers still set to participate. The festival, which kicked off last Friday, will run until Saturday, showcasing a wide range of musical talent.
This protest highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the ethics of corporate sponsorships in the music industry and the intersection of politics and art. While some artists have chosen to boycott the event, others are still participating, underscoring the complexity of navigating these moral and political issues in the music world.
“Social media scholar. Reader. Zombieaholic. Hardcore music maven. Web fanatic. Coffee practitioner. Explorer.”