The current storm engulfing Sydney Festival and their partnership with the Israeli Embassy has led to noise punks Tropical F... Storm cancelling their two festival appearances slated for late January.
So far more than 20 shows or acts have withdrawn from Sydney Festival this week citing the $20,000 donation from the Israeli Embassy to stage a dance performance, including Nazeem Hussain (who posted to Facebook 'Free Palestine') and Tom Ballard who tweeted: 'I respectfully ask that @sydney_festival review its decision and return the funding in question, and I call on other artists to consider joining this boycott, too.'Now Tropical F... Storm have added their name to the growing list of artists boycotting Sydney Festival.
Tropical F... Storm statement regarding the cancellation of their two Sydney Festival shows:
'Unbeknownst to everyone out there in internet-mob land, we have been doing our best to talk to Sydney Festival about the possibility of them refunding and ending their partnership with 2022's star sponsor (the Israeli Embassy, who donated a paltry $20,000 to some dance group).
'Rather than immediately announce online that we'd jump ship, we thought we'd actually try to do something in the real world for everyone involved and try to encourage Sydney Festival to do the right thing and fix the problem they created, that problem being Sydney Festival taking on a sponsor so dodgy, pointless and controversial it would inevitably mean that hundreds of unwitting artists (who are having a rough enough time with the pandemic as it is) would become the targets of online harassment, bullying, smear campaigns, ridiculous accusations, misrepresentations and abuse from total strangers who have no idea what's actually going on behind the scenes, what any artist's position is or even what they're talking about.
'It is a problem we didn't create and one we weren't aware of until about 48 hours ago. 'At the time of posting, Sydney Festival has stated they have no intention to refund the money or sever the sponsorship relationship, even though the sh.t sandwich they've landed every billed artist in is blatantly obvious to them.
'Due to this complete lack of respect and integrity towards the artists billed from Sydney Festival and its partners, we have decided to cancel our two appearances.
'We want to apologise to our fans who have made arrangements to come to the show; we appreciate you all. When we do finally get to play for you, Sydney, it is going to be a corker. We will see you soon.'
'Unbeknownst to everyone out there in internet-mob land, we have been doing our best to talk to Sydney Festival about the possibility of them refunding and ending their partnership with 2022's star sponsor (the Israeli Embassy, who donated a paltry $20,000 to some dance group).
'Rather than immediately announce online that we'd jump ship, we thought we'd actually try to do something in the real world for everyone involved and try to encourage Sydney Festival to do the right thing and fix the problem they created, that problem being Sydney Festival taking on a sponsor so dodgy, pointless and controversial it would inevitably mean that hundreds of unwitting artists (who are having a rough enough time with the pandemic as it is) would become the targets of online harassment, bullying, smear campaigns, ridiculous accusations, misrepresentations and abuse from total strangers who have no idea what's actually going on behind the scenes, what any artist's position is or even what they're talking about.
'It is a problem we didn't create and one we weren't aware of until about 48 hours ago. 'At the time of posting, Sydney Festival has stated they have no intention to refund the money or sever the sponsorship relationship, even though the sh.t sandwich they've landed every billed artist in is blatantly obvious to them.
'Due to this complete lack of respect and integrity towards the artists billed from Sydney Festival and its partners, we have decided to cancel our two appearances.
'We want to apologise to our fans who have made arrangements to come to the show; we appreciate you all. When we do finally get to play for you, Sydney, it is going to be a corker. We will see you soon.'
The band's national tour kicks off in their home state with three sold-out shows this weekend.
Tropical F... Storm 2022 Tour Dates
Fri 7 Jan - Theatre Royal (Castlemaine)* sold outSat 8 Jan - The Eastern (Ballarat)* sold out
Sun 9 Jan - Forum Melbourne* sold out
Sun 30 Jan - Princess Theatre (Brisbane)
Fri 11 Feb - Torquay Hotel (Torquay)
Sat 12 Feb - Uni Bar (Hobart)
Sun 13 Feb - Forum Melbourne* new show
Fri 22 Apr - The Charles (Perth)
Sat 23 Apr - Freo.Social (Fremantle)
Sun 24 Apr - The Gov (Adelaide)
