Massive Attack have cancelled one of their upcoming shows in Georgia, in a protest of the “government’s attack on basic human rights”.
The gig was set to take place at the Black Sea Arena in Georgia, and to be held on July 28 as part of the Starring Georgia project. It was announced back in April, and promoted by the venue as an “audio-visual theatrical show” that would aim to “present [the band’s] activities linked with the details of everyday life.”
Now, 3D (Robert Del Naja) and co. have confirmed that they will no longer be playing at the gig in protest of what they deem human rights violations by the government. The decision comes in light of thousands of protesters taking to the streets in Georgia, following the parliament approving a “foreign agents” bill.
As per AlJazeera, the bill “requires media and NGOs to register as ‘pursuing the interests of a foreign power’ if they receive more than 20 per cent of their funding from abroad.” It is also seen by many as being influenced by a similar legislation in Russia, which has been used to hush political opponents. The decision to pass the bill was made despite widespread unrest in the country and warnings from both the EU and the US.
The band announced the news of their cancelled gig on X/Twitter earlier today (June 12). “We’ve decided to cancel our show in Georgia on 28 July in protest of the Georgian government’s attack on basic human rights,” the update began.
Georgia. #ProtectTheProtest pic.twitter.com/PEdqNdrnH2
— Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) June 12, 2024
“At this moment, performing at the state-owned Black Sea Arena could be seen as an endorsement of their violent crackdown against peaceful protests and civil society. Beatings, arrests, threats, and violence against peaceful protesters, activists, and opponents, along with laws smearing civil society and denying LGBTI rights, go against everything we stand for.”
They continued: “We stand in solidarity with peaceful protesters in Georgia defying state violence & feel that it is their voices that need to be heard and their struggle that needs to be under the international spotlight. We’ll return and perform with you in freedom. #ProtecttheProtest”.
Their refusal to play in Georgia comes just days after the band took to the stage to play their first live show in five years, and brought out Elizabeth Fraser for a rendition of ‘Song To The Siren’.
During the gig, which was held at the Gothenburg Film Studios in Sweden, they also brought out longtime member Deborah Miller for both ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ and fan-favourite ‘Safe From Harm’.
For the latter, Del Naja explained how the performance that night was in solidarity with the people in Gaza. “Traditionally this is a song of protest, tonight it is a song of solidarity with the Palestinian people,” he told the crowd (via Brooklyn Vegan).
The vocal support from Del Naja also comes just days after he posted a video, reading a letter from a doctor describing the “catastrophe” for newborn babies in Rafah.
Massive Attack have been vocal about their support for Palestine in the past too, having boycotted performing in Israel since 1999.
They also announced a Gaza benefit single in collaboration with Fontaines D.C. and Young Fathers, which will reportedly release on July 1, as well as supported the wave of bands that dropped out of The Great Escape festival.
Massive Attack said of the walkout: “We’ve endless, special respect for younger artists or artists at earlier stages of their careers who choose to take a stand against corporate support for apartheid and now genocide in Palestine.”
Following the show in Sweden, Massive Attack are set to embark on more shows across the UK and Europe this summer, including a huge homecoming gig in Bristol. Details of the homecoming gig were first shared in December, when the trip-hop collective confirmed that 2024 would see them perform at an all-day “large-scale climate action accelerator event” – celebrating 25 years of climate activism for the band.
In keeping with the environmental theme, the event is also set to be the lowest carbon show of its size ever staged. In April, the band announced the full run of artists that will be joining them as special guests for the all-day event. These include Killer Mike, Lankum, Sam Morton and a rare performance from the Wild Bunch’s DJ Milo.
As well as the Bristol show, Massive Attack will also be performing in Spain at Bilbao BBK Live in July, as well as making an appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Visit here for remaining tickets to their shows.
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