The American group Big Thief announced Thursday the cancellation of the two shows it planned to give in Tel Aviv, Israel. Following the outcry caused by the announcement of these concerts, the group says it wants to “grow and move forward with transparency, responsibility”.
Posted yesterday at 12:41 p.m.
Five days after announcing that the two shows would be held in the hometown of one of its members, bassist Max Oleartchik, Big Thief is reconsidering its decision. “We have more to learn to be able to act in a more enlightened way”.
Big Thief first wanted to clarify some details of their social media post that announced the two shows, on July 6 and 7. While discussing love “beyond disagreement,” the group referred to the cultural boycott of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. “It was not in reference to the Israeli occupation and the displacement of Palestinians,” the group clarified in its most recent message.
“To be clear, we oppose the illegal occupation and systemic oppression of the Palestinian people. We believe in total freedom and self-determination for all Palestinians. »
In 2021, some 600 musicians, including Rage Against The Machine, The Roots, Patti Smith and Run The Jewels, signed an open letter asking artists to boycott Israel.