Update, 2:20 pm EST: An earlier version of this article said Irish acts Cardinals, Gurriers, and NewDad were still set to perform at SXSW, but they have since withdrawn. This article has been updated to reflect all of the bands of the island of Ireland who have pulled out of SXSW.
12 acts from the island of Ireland have withdrawn from this week's SXSW festival in Austin, Texas in protest of the festival's ties to the US military and weapons manufacturers.
After Kneecap, the Belfast-based Irish language hip-hop trio, announced on Sunday, March 10 that they would no longer be participating in SXSW, other Irish acts have followed suit.
The following Irish acts have withdrawn from participating in SXSW: Kneecap, Soda Blonde, Chalk, Mick Flannery, Gavin James, Robert Grace, Sprints, Enola Gay, Conchúr White, Cardinals, Gurriers, and NewDad.
(Nialler9 notes that Enola Gay and Conchúr White, both from Northern Ireland, are on separate UK NI funding.)
Music From Ireland, the Irish Music Export Office run by First Music Contact and funded by Culture Ireland, is due to present the Music From Ireland SXSW Official Showcase on Thursday and the Full Irish Breakfast show on Friday as part of Ireland House at SXSW.
Kneecap, Mick Flannery, Soda Blonde, Cardinals, Gurriers, and NewDad were due to feature in Thursday's SXSW Official Showcase.
Conchúr White, Robert Grace, Mick Flannery, Gavin James, Soda Blonde, Chalk, Sprints, Cardinals, Gurriers, and NewDad were due to perform during Friday's Full Irish Breakfast show.
In a statement on Tuesday, Music From Ireland said: “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.”
Our update shared earlier this morning. Stay posted for further developments. https://t.co/f1KKjT8tsP pic.twitter.com/COHysB2kk1
— Music From Ireland (@MusicFrmIreland) March 12, 2024
A statement from Ireland's Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media later on Tuesday said that Minister Catherine Martin, who is in the US this week, "spoke this morning to many of the musicians who have withdrawn from the SXSW Festival.
"She outlined that she has the utmost respect for their freedom of expression as artists and reassured them that she will use every opportunity available to her to make clear her revulsion at the devastation that has been unleashed on Gaza."
All of the Irish acts who have canceled thus far took to social media to share their reasoning.
On Sunday, Kneecap announced they were canceling their three scheduled shows "in solidarity with the people of Palestine" because of the US military's sponsorship of SXSW.
We will not be appearing at @sxsw festival. 👇 pic.twitter.com/nt5hEMH2GM
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) March 10, 2024
On Monday, Soda Blonde said it had officially withdrawn and would not be performing at SXSW after learning that the "US Army is a 'super sponsor'" of the festival and that "Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of the defense contractor RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon), will be showcasing new defense technologies at the event."
We have officially withdrawn from @sxsw pic.twitter.com/8TxWaOMQOz
— Soda Blonde (@sodablonde) March 11, 2024
Chalk announced later on Monday that they will not be playing at SXSW, saying that they cannot accept SXSW's decision to "align themselves with weapon manufacturers that facilitate the brutal killings of innocent civilians in Palestine."
A statement about SXSW. 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/x9hTfRyUqk
— Chalk (@chalk_band) March 11, 2024
Mick Flannery did not mention Palestine in his statement on Monday, but said he will not be playing SXSW because he does not "wish to be associated with weapons manufacturers."
— Mick Flannery (@MickFlannery) March 11, 2024
Gavin James also did not mention Palestine, but said on Monday that he will "never support any event that is associated with weapons of war."
View this post on Instagram
Robert Grace also said on Monday he will not attend or perform at SXSW.
View this post on Instagram
Sprints said on Monday that it will not be taking part in any official SXSW showcases or shows "in solidarity with the Palestinian people and as a stand against the US Army sponsorship and Defence contractor involvement in this year's festival."
SXSW. pic.twitter.com/t3jSxWTQDi
— SPRINTS (@SPRINTSmusic) March 11, 2024
Belfast-based rock group Enola Gay said it had withdrawn from SXSW because "it is impossible to perform at a festival where the US Army are a 'super sponsor' meaning SX will be platforming defence contractors such as RTX (Raytheon), Collins Aerospace, BAE Systems - directly tied to manufacturing and supplying weapons used in Gaza against Palestinians."
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On Tuesday, Conchúr White said he had pulled out, adding that he does not want to "align" with weapons manufacturers.
— Conchúr White (@ConchurWhite) March 12, 2024
In a joint statement later on Tuesday, Cardinals, Enola Gay, Gurriers, and NewDad said that they "stand in complete solidarity with Palestine and others who have spoken out against, and boycotted SXSW."
They added that they will make joint statements at the Music From Ireland Official SXSW Showcase on Thursday, and what would have been the Full Irish Breakfast show on Friday.
— Gurriers (@gurriersband) March 12, 2024
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