Big Thief Cancel Israel Shows, Offer Explanation and Apology

After angering fans last week by announcing—and preemptively defending—a pair of July shows in Tel Aviv, Israel, indie darlings Big Thief have reversed and apologized for their decision. “We will be canceling our 2 shows in Tel Aviv,” the band announced in a statement shared via social media Thursday morning, attempting to clarify the thinking behind their initial plans to perform in bassist Max Oleartchik’s hometown, as well as offering an apology: “We are sorry to those we hurt with the recklessness and naivete of our original statement.”

The statement addresses the band’s initial announcement point by point, identifying some of the language that most piqued fans—most notably, the band’s claim to not know “where the moral high ground lies.” They explain this was a reference to the BDS movement’s calls for cultural boycott, rather than a comment on “the Israeli occupation and the displacement of Palestinians” in general: “To be clear, we oppose the illegal occupation and the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people. We believe in total freedom and self-determination for all Palestinians.”

“Our intent in wanting to play the shows in Tel Aviv, where Max was born, raised and currently lives, stemmed from a simple belief that music can heal,” their statement continues. “We now recognize that the shows we had booked do not honor that sentiment.”

Big Thief do not address the fact that their initial statement was all but identical to one they issued alongside 2020 plans to perform in Israel (which were derailed by the pandemic), another aspect of the situation that rankled listeners. They have since deleted last week’s announcement of their now-canceled July Israel shows from their social channels.

Meanwhile, the Tel Aviv venue Barby, where Big Thief previously performed in 2017 (and had planned to perform in 2020 and this summer), took to social media to angrily criticize the band’s decision to no longer perform. We won’t quote that here—it’s surprisingly rude and juvenile.

“In your responses to our actions, you have helped us to realize that we were in avoidance of entering this discussion about Max’s home in a more thoughtful way,” the band’s statement concludes. “We are committed to growing from this, and moving forward with the transparency, accountability, and import that such a situation requires.”

Big Thief’s Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You is one of the year’s most acclaimed albums. They are currently touring the E.U. in support of the double LP.

Read the full text of Big Thief’s statement and revisit their 2016 Daytrotter session below.

We will be canceling our 2 shows in Tel Aviv.

We would like to start by clarifying a few things from our first post. When we spoke of loving “beyond disagreement” and not knowing “where the moral high ground lies,” that was in specific reference to playing shows in Israel during a time when BDS is calling for a cultural boycott. This was not in reference to the Israeli occupation and the displacement of Palestinians.

To be clear, we oppose the illegal occupation and the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people. 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. We acknowledge that aspects of our previous post were written unclearly and in avoidance of the magnitude and importance of this conversation. We also recognize there are limitations in our perspectives based on our various layers of privilege. We said we are “well aware of the cultural aspects of the BDS boycott” and we have since realized that that is not the case.

Since announcing these shows in Israel we have been in constant dialogue with friends, family, BDS supporters and allies, Palestinians, and Israeli citizens who are committed to the fight for justice for Palestinians. It has been the only thing on our minds and in our hearts.

Our intent in wanting to play the shows in Tel Aviv, where Max was born, raised, and currently lives, stemmed from a simple belief that music can heal. We now recognize that the shows we had booked do not honor that sentiment. We are sorry to those we hurt with the recklessness and naivete of our original statement on playing in Israel and we hope those who were planning to attend the shows understand our choice to cancel them.

We recognize that withholding our cultural labor alone cannot be the only action we take. We have more learning to do so we can take more informed action.

As a band, we consider each other family, forever reaching to understand each other. In your responses to our actions, you have helped us to realize that we were in avoidance of entering this discussion about Max’s home in a more thoughtful way.

We are committed to growing from this, and moving forward with the transparency, accountability, and import that such a situation requires.

With love, Big Thief