Artists boycott SXSW in support of Palestine
Several artists have pulled out of performing at SXSW in Austin due to the event’s connection to the defence industry.
In addition to SXSW being linked to defence contractor RTX Corporation, it is also sponsored by the US Army. On March 4th, the boycott was led by singer-songwriter Ella Williams, who performs as Squirrel Flower. The festival, which largely platforms new talent, is set to begin on March 8th and concludes on March 16th.
Taking to Instagram, Williams explained: “I am pulling out specifically because of the fact that SXSW is platforming defence contractors including [RTX] as well as the US army, a main sponsor of the festival.”
She continued: “These defence contractors make the weapons that the IDF uses to bomb Gaza. The IDF has now killed at least one in every 75 inhabitants of Gaza, [and] I refuse to be complicit in that. I don’t believe that a music festival should include profiteers of war – I believe that art is a tool to create a better world and has no place alongside warmongers.”
After Williams’ statement, Malalarky, Merce Lemon, Proper, Tc_superstar, Ama the Band, Abe Balshon, Shalom and Eliza McLamb followed suit. Mamalarky bassist Noor Khan stated it was a “really easy decision” to not play SXSW and claimed, “playing these two official shows could never bring us anything that matters more than the lives that are being lost in Palestine today”.
The band’s vocalist, Livvy Bennett, said a major reason for pulling out of SXSW is because it would have required “promoting this festival for over a week, and we do not want to do that”.
While McLamb said: “I have pulled out of my official SXSW showcase after learning that the US Army is a major sponsor of the event. I will never put my name on or perform my labor for an event in service of the US war machine, and especially not now they continue to fuel the ongoing violence against Palestinians. Bloood money has no place in music.”
Since the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on October 7th, over 30,000 people have been killed in Palestine, and over two million citizens have been displaced from their homes.
The boycott of SXSW comes after the Austin for Palestine coalition pleaded with the festival to stop working with RTX and BAE Systems.
In a statement, they said: “If SXSW wishes to retain its credibility, it must change course by disavowing the normalization of militarization within the tech and entertainment industries. By taking decisive action, SXSW can set an example for other industry events and join other artists, musicians, creative organizations, and the majority of Americans in the fight for a world free from violence and oppression.”
Far Out has contacted SXSW for comment.
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