Mexican duo Rodrigo y Gabriela cancel controversial 'Tel Aviv' concert
3 Min Read
In a series of concert cancellations, Rodrigo y Gabriela has become one of many artists to terminate their show in "Tel Aviv" following an uproar from human rights activists.
-
Rodrigo y Gabriela (Guitar.com)
Various artists and musicians have been joining hands in canceling shows in "Israel", especially in light of the 2021 and 2022 Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and after a massive global uproar from fans and human rights defenders.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a founding member of the BDS movement, welcomed the decision of the Mexican band, Rodrigo y Gabriela, who announced the termination of their upcoming show hours before it was due to take place in the Tel Aviv Culture Center, just a short drive from where the Israeli occupation killed 48 Palestinians including 19 children and injured 360 more.
Chain of cancellations by global musicians
Even before the attacks on Gaza, Rodrigo y Gabriela had privately told the Palestinian group Le Trio Joubran that they had ditched the Tel Aviv concert. Le Trio Joubran, renowned oud marvels, had appealed last month to the Mexican band to cancel their appearance by urging on social media: "Please Rod and Gabi, take the right decision".
During the band's show at the Esperanzah festival in Belgium, fans waved the Palestinian flags and keffiyehs and urged Rodrigo y Gabriela to cancel the concert in the occupied territories.
Irish actor Steve Wall also appealed to the band, joined by Mexican and Irish human rights defenders. Rodrigo y Gabriela spent eight years living and working in Dublin, after originating in Mexico and becoming known for heavy metal, nuevo flamenco, and rock.
While the duo did not publicly address their cancellation of the concert in "Israel", they posted a tweet two days before it had been due to take place that their tour was now over – now the third concert in occupied Palestine to be canceled this summer.
Le duo mexicain @rodgab prévoit de se produire à Tel Aviv dans un auditorium financé par un des fondateurs du programme de colonisation.
— Gregory Mauzé (@MauzeGreg) July 31, 2022
Hier soir à @esperanzah, des militants demandaient aux deux artistes d'annuler leur performance dans un pays qui pratique l'apartheid. pic.twitter.com/JR3YUnY3Gj
Another was US band Big Thief who apologized to their fans in June for their announcement of two shows in "Israel", and voiced their opposition to "the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people". That did not sit well with the venue Barby in which they were supposed to play, calling the band a "bunch of miserable, spineless musicians".
Read more: South Africans call to cancel Justin Bieber's concert in "Israel"
Canadian group BADBADNOTGOOD followed suit and announced the cancellation of their concert at Barby as well, as a result of appeals from fans and activists which were privately verified.
The PACBI urged all artists to reject offers from "Israel's" cultural sector that is complicit in apartheid and to refuse to "art-wash Israel's" massacres.
