Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in "Israel"
Joint statement: The United States will cut down tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China will cut down tariffs on American goods from 125% to 10% for the same period
US-China trade talks joint statement: Agreement to temporarily reduce tariffs for 90 days
Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obaida: Al-Qassam has decided to release the Zionist soldier holding American citizenship, Edan Alexander, today
Israeli media: The army was informed of a ceasefire in Gaza to release captive Idan Alexander, starting 12 pm
Qatari Foreign Ministry: Qatar and Egypt welcome Hamas' announcement of its agreement to release American Aidan Alexander.
Hamas says to release US captive Edan Alexander.
Al Mayadeen's sources: Trump will announce that Hamas will release US captive Edan Alexander from Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli aircraft bombed the coastal province of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, west of Yemen.
The Israeli occupation military issues a bombing threat against the Yemeni ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif.

BDS wins again: Big Thief cancels “Tel Aviv” gigs

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 10 Jun 2022 15:13
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Following a wave of boycott pressure, a US-based indie rock band has canceled upcoming shows in “Israel”.

  • x
  • Big Thief cancels “Tel Aviv” gigs.
    Big Thief cancels “Tel Aviv” gigs.

The indie rock band Big Thief has canceled two shows in “Tel Aviv”, marking the latest victory for the Palestinian-led boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.

Big Thief, a four-member rock band, was scheduled to perform at “Tel Aviv's” Barby on July 6 and 7. 

It is worth noting that the group’s bass player, Max Oleartchik, is Israeli.

The band effectively listened to its audience, urging them not to perform in apartheid “Israel”.

“We are sorry to those we hurt with the recklessness and naivete of our original statement on playing in Israel,” Big Thief said on Thursday.

Palestinians have reacted positively to the move.

On its account, PACBI, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of "Israel", said: “We salute Big Thief’s courage and their willingness to listen to the oppressed.” 

“We recognize, too, the clear position of a majority of the group’s fans of principled support for BDS,” PACBI stressed.

Furthermore, the band added that it now realizes the “magnitude” of the matter.

“We oppose the illegal occupation and the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people,” Big Thief added.

We will be canceling our 2 shows in Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/ocSFtgnYz4

— Big Thief (@bigthiefmusic) June 9, 2022

“We believe in total freedom and self-determination for all Palestinians.”

“Although we have much to learn, these basic realities were never in question for us,” they said. “We also recognize there are limitations in our perspectives based on our various layers of privilege.”

Simultaneously, many supporters of Palestinian rights thanked the band on social media.

However, Barby, the “Tel Aviv” venue where the band was scheduled to perform, expressed their outrage at the band's announcement.

The venue bashed the band members, describing them as “a bunch of miserable musicians without a backbone who are afraid of their own shadow.”

"All the evil in the world!" the venue wished the band.

The vile response from Barby is unsurprising given its history of openly celebrating Israeli soldiers who murder Palestinians.

Barby "proudly handed out free T-shirts with the venue's logo and the words 'f**k you, we're from Israel' to soldiers who participated in the Israeli aggression on Gaza in 2014," PACBI highlighted.

The apartheid Tel Aviv venue Barby, where US band @bigthiefmusic was due to play next month, has announced the band’s cancellation of the shows. We warmly welcome this decision.

We salute Big Thief’s courage and their willingness to listen to the oppressed. #BigThiefSkipBarby pic.twitter.com/w8Cq2IWrRR

— PACBI (@PACBI) June 9, 2022

It is worth noting that “Israel” killed 11 Palestinian children on average per day during that 51-day brutal aggression.

The news also came as a slap to the face of pro-“Israel” lobbyists.

In 2017, Big Thief performed at the same “Tel Aviv” venue. It had planned to do so again in March 2020, but due to the pandemic, the show was canceled.

Following “Israel's” 11-day bombardment of Gaza in May 2021, major artists pledged not to perform in “Israel” and urged others to do the same.

Patti Smith, Noname, Run the Jewels, Sun City Girls, Broken Social Scene, Rage Against the Machine, Julian Casablancas, and Vic Mensa are among those who have signed the Musicians for Palestine pledge.

The artists urge their colleagues to "publicly declare their solidarity with Palestinian people," because "complicity with Israeli war crimes is found in silence."

Read more: "Israel's" dangerous weapon: Normalization through arts and culture

  • BDS
  • Big Thief
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Palestine

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
A Yemeni gunman walks past paintings depicting rockets and scenes in solidarity with Gaza, displayed on a roadside fence in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, May 5, 2025 (AP)

Oman brokers US-Yemen ceasefire, Israelis in dark regarding deal

  • Politics
  • 6 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
This Sept. 29, 2018 file photo shows idle cargo and oil tanker ships at the port of Hodeida, Yemen. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' issues threats to three Yemeni ports

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a briefing in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Politics

Zelensky agrees to meet Putin in Istanbul, demands ceasefire first

A boy holds an empty pot over his head as he waits for donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, Friday, May 9, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US-Gaza ceasefire negotiations intensify amid Trump-Netanyahu split

AP
Politics

Hamas to free Edan Alexander as part of Gaza deal: Al-Hayya

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS