WASHINGTON, Big Thief, an American indie rock band, has pulled out of two upcoming live shows in the occupying state of Israel and apologized for the “recklessness and naivete” of a statement they had previously shared defending the booking.
The band’s decision to play two shows in Tel Aviv in July have been the subject of a heated controversy over the weekend with multiple social media users calling the band out for seemingly ignoring the BDS cultural boycott of Israel.
In a statement shared today, Big Thief walked back on its previous decision and confirmed it will no longer be playing in Israel next month. “Our intent in wanting to play the shows in Tel Aviv, where Max was born, raised, and currently lives, stemmed from a simple belief that music can heal,” the band said.
“We now recognize that the shows we had booked do not honor that sentiment.” They went on to add: “We oppose the illegal occupation and the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people.”
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has welcomed the band’s decision, saying: “We salute Big Thief’s courage and their willingness to listen to the oppressed.”
Source: Palestine News & Info Agency