OPINION: Following the addition of Sticky Fingers to the 2023 Bluesfest line-up King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have cancelled their appearance at the same festival.
Last week, the director of Bluesfest, Peter Noble, personally gave his imprimatur saying, "Sticky Fingers, the bad boys of Australian music, currently on their sell-out UK tour, will be playing one of their all-too-rare shows in Australia. They have only played a handful in the last five years, and Bluesfest is happy to welcome them back." Read the full statement here.
The events of last week have caused the music industry and the wider music-loving community back into discussion around the historical actions of Dylan Frost (of Sticky Fingers) including those in 2016 and appropriate responses, by both him and others associated and affected.
In 2019, scenestr national music editor, Gareth Bryant wrote, 'Utter the words 'Sticky Fingers' and you better be prepared to jump off the fence.
'The Aussie band, once darlings of the local music scene in the early 2010s with a slew of album releases (that peaked with 2014's 'Land Of Pleasure' and 2016's 'Westway (The Glitter & The Slums)' who could do no wrong, became social media enemy #1 in late 2016.
'Allegations of racial abuse dogged frontman Dylan Frost, not helped by serial drunken episodes leading to widespread condemnation of the band – by music media outlets and the general public. The group hunkered down, rightfully admitting to an excess rock & roll lifestyle that Frost labelled "alcoholic behaviour in the past has intimidated or made people feel unsafe around me".'
Bryant went on to say, 'We all make mistakes; every, single one of us. So surely a mature society can offer those who have offended the opportunity to reintegrate themselves into public life if they've displayed a willingness to own past wrongdoings? Something I believe Sticky Fingers have done.' Read Bryant's assessment here.
The key issues for Bryant – and for this writer – are not only did Frost make a very clear apology at the time there have been no further incidents we are aware of for the best part of seven years.
The publisher and editor of scenestr acknowledge the historical actions and hurt caused by Frost’s behaviour. We have no issue with the addition of STIFI to the Bluesfest line-up and wish all concerned the very best.
EDIT: Wednesay 22.2.2023
The phrase used by Noble, "bad boys of Australian music ..." was poorly chosen and its problematic inference was initially missed by me. 'Bad boys' conjures notions of naughtiness; sticking two fingers up to the police and peeing on lamp posts. In his efforts to extend the hand of conciliation, Noble needed to extricate Frost's actual past behaviour from more romantic and more forgiveable 'rock and roll' stereotypes.
EDIT: Thursday 23.2.2023
Double J reports, "Sampa The Great will not be appearing at Bluesfest 2023, a representative for the artist confirmed to Double J on Tuesday afternoon. Bluesfest declined to comment on Sampa The Great's involvement in the festival last week, when it was noticed that, on a social media post by the artist, the Byron Bay festival was omitted from her list of forthcoming Australian appearances.
"As of Tuesday 21 February, her name was no longer on the Bluesfest website and social media channels. In a statement provided to Double J by Sampa The Great's representatives, the Zambian artist confirms she has been advocating for her removal from the Bluesfest line-up since last Tuesday 14 February."
